Bloom Energy undertakes fresh expansion
Green energy company signs lease to add more north San Jose office space
SAN JOSE >> Bloom Energy has struck a leasing deal that enables a fresh expansion in north San Jose for the creator of cutting-edge green energy technologies, executives said Wednesday.
The green energy company has leased 32,800 square feet, an agreement that allows Bloom Energy to occupy an entire big office building on North First Street that serves as the company’s headquarters, commercial real estate firms CBRE and JLL said.
With the latest leasing agreement, Bloom Energy now occupies 182,700 square feet, which is the entirety of one of the two office buildings in the 237@ First office complex in north San Jose’s Alviso district.
Bloom Energy has launched a growth boom in San Jose and Fremont, according to Carl Guardino, Bloom Energy’s executive vice president for government affairs and policy.
San Jose-based Bloom’s boom runs counter to the dreary narrative espoused by some that a mass exodus of companies seeking to flee California is underway.
“When it comes to decisions about California, some employers may be going, but Bloom Energy is growing,” Guardino said.
The two-building 237@ First tech campus totals 368,700 square feet and is located at 4353 N. First St. and 4453 North First St. Bloom Energy occupies the entire 4353 N. First office
site. CBRE Investment Management bought the office complex in 2020.
“We have expanded our headquarters in San Jose and increased our manufacturing footprint in Fremont to further our technology leadership and support the strong demand for our solutions,” Guardino said.
Bloom Energy manufactures and provides clean energy
power generators. The company’s fuel cell power generators use natural gas or biogas as fuel.
CBRE brokers Jeff Houston, Rochelle Imani and Vincent Scott, and JLL broker Steve Levere arranged the lease.
“We are pleased to have Bloom Energy as a fullbuilding tenant at 237@ First, where we have successfully implemented a robust leasing and management program that is focused on tenant satisfaction and retention,” said Brian Ma, a senior director with CBRE Investment Management.
“Tenant amenities include a fitness center with a yoga studio and several large outdoor collaboration areas, a sought-after feature,” CBRE stated.
CBRE added that it revamped underutilized outdoor areas to create a healthier environment in the office complex.
Outdoor spaces are increasingly being viewed as important amenities in office spaces amid rising health-related concerns while the coronavirus rages on.
The technologies that Bloom Energy has crafted could help ward off some of the effects of catastrophes linked to electricity and energy woes, including deliberate outages known as public safety power shutoffs, company executives said.
“As Bloom Energy empowers our communities and businesses to responsibly take charge of their energy with clean, resilient power, we’re providing critical protection from grid instability for our communities, driven by wildfires, rolling blackouts and PSPS events,” Guardino said.
The demand for the company’s energy products has spurred hiring at Bloom Energy, the company said.
“As the world’s need for reliable and sustainable energy grows, we’re growing careers in engineering, finance and supply chain in our San Jose headquarters and adding more than 300 manufacturing careers throughout Silicon Valley over the next 12 months,” Guardino said.