Google Inks Deal to Convert Mayfield Mall

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA-Google, Inc. has signed a long-term office lease at the former Mayfield Mall here.

The property's owner is a joint venture between Rockwood Capital, LLC and Four Corners Properties, LLC.  The renovation to transform the property into a premier class “A” Silicon Valley office campus has begun, with completion planned for 2014.  The campus, located at 100 Mayfield Avenue, will consist of more than 500,000 square feet of office space on 27.6 acres, and this is the largest lease signed in Silicon Valley this year.

The property was constructed in 1966 as the Mayfield Mall, which was the first enclosed air-conditioned shopping mall in northern California.  The Mayfield Mall was occupied by businesses including J.C. Penney, Wells Fargo Bank, the Mayfair Market grocery store, many smaller local shops, and a Greyhound bus terminal.  The renovated buildings will incorporate historic elements from the property's previous retail use into a modern state-of–the-art office campus.  Among its features will be dramatic multi-story sky-lit atriums, LEED building certification, outdoor congregation and amenity areas, gyms, abundant bike storage, and recycled outdoor furniture constructed from existing trees on the property.  The campus is located in the heart of Silicon Valley in a mixed-use area with shops, restaurants, housing, and a planned hotel nearby.  It is adjacent to the San Antonio Caltrain station, a 50-minute train ride to downtown San Francisco. 

"The renovation of the Mayfield Mall into a premier office campus will be a catalyst for the transformation of an evolving mixed-use urban location that benefits from rail," said Jason Oberman, vice president, at Rockwood Capital.  "The repurposing of the former Mayfield Mall will incorporate the property's historic architectural elements and will utilize green building techniques, modern design, and advanced building technology." 

Bruce Burkard, founding partner at Four Corners Properties, said, "We are very excited to have signed a lease with Google to create a leading-edge office campus for such an innovative company."

Kevin Cunningham and Jack Troedson of Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank represented the landlord.  Steve Berkman, real estate partner at Paul Hastings, represented the landlord in the lease negotiation.

Rockwood Capital, LLC is a real estate investment firm that provides equity capital combined with real estate expertise for repositioning, recapitalization, development and redevelopment of retail, hotel, residential, office and research and development space in key markets throughout the United States. Rockwood has offices in San Francisco, CA, White Plains, NY, and Los Angeles, CA, and manages a portfolio of approximately $2.9 billion of net equity value in approximately $7.0 billion of gross real estate value.

Four Corners Properties is a privately held, full service real estate development, investment and operating company with offices in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. FCP focuses primarily on value-add, urban infill opportunities of commercial properties within Northern California. Since its inception in 2005, FCP has completed the acquisition of 29 buildings totaling over 2.7 million square feet of office and R&D space, representing a total investment of approximately $600 million.