Arm North American Headquarters

Embracing technology to craft an award-winning, eco-friendly workplace that encourages creativity and teamwork

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Gleeds provided comprehensive project management, cost management and quantity surveying services for Arm's North American headquarters in San Jose, California.

The project involved the build-out of 156,000 sqf of Class A flexible office and IT space across two buildings, emphasising sustainable design and employee well-being. Recognised by Forbes as one of the most innovative companies, Arm wished to expand its North American headquarters to create a cutting-edge, collaborative workspace. The new headquarters spans 156,000 sqf across two buildings, featuring a commercial grade catering facility, wellness suite with a gym, cafeteria, modern collaboration areas and state-of-the-art meeting rooms. Additionally, an outdoor terrace and garden area provide a relaxing environment for employees to enjoy San Jose's warm weather. The location offers convenient access to the Intel Museum, Baylands Park, Great America amusement park, Levi’s Stadium and the Great Mall.

Gleeds’ role involved project management, cost management and quantity surveying. All delivered within budget and on time, the construction programme was designed to create a high-quality, technology-driven environment that promotes innovation and collaboration among Arm’s staff, partners and visitors.

Despite challenges such as labour strikes and the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was completed on schedule.

Gleeds implemented several solutions:

  • Collaborative design management: Through close cooperation with project stakeholders, we aligned with the client’s expectations and local market conditions.
  • Value engineering: We introduced strategic cost-saving measures to mitigate financial impacts.
  • Phased project management: Dividing the project into stages helped us manage the aggressive timeline more effectively.
  • Sustainable design: The emphasis on sustainable practices, including energy-efficient appliances, occupancy sensors and locally sourced materials, contributed to the project’s LEED® Gold certification.
  • Employee well-being: By incorporating employee requirements from the outset, the facility achieved high standards for well-being, earning WELL Gold certification.

The successful completion of Arm’s North American headquarters underscores the transformative power of technology and sustainable design. Key outcomes included:

  • Timely completion: Despite significant challenges, the project was completed on schedule in March 2021.
  • Sustainable achievements: The project earned both LEED Gold and WELL Gold certifications, reflecting a commitment to environmental responsibility and employee well-being, respectively.
  • Employee satisfaction: The modern, attractive workplace promotes collaboration and innovation, aligning with Arm’s vision for a high-quality technology environment.

In a testament to Gleeds’ style of project management, huge hurdles were overcome to bring the project to the finish line. From labour strikes to COVID-19, we fought together as one unified team to deliver a cutting-edge, world-class headquarter campus which will bring Arm long-term value for its employees for the next decade.

  • Total Area: 156,000 SF within two buildings.
  • Floors: Two floors each in two buildings.
  • One of just over 300 buildings in California to achieve Gold WELL certification.

156,000

sf

Total area

Gold WELL certification

LEED® Gold certification

I was unaware of the concept of a fully-embedded project manager until the Gleeds project team proposed the arrangement. After its successful implementation over the last two years, I will never tackle a project of this size and scale without a similar approach. Stuart, Sachin and the wider Gleeds team provided a level of service unheard of in corporate real estate during the Arm campus build due to their willingness to embed themselves in Arm culture. Issues were no longer 'client' problems to solve – they were 'our' problems to tackle together as a team.

Andrew McDonald
Former U.S. Workplace Portfolio Manager for Arm

As a new entity to the client, we embarked on Phase One with scepticism surrounding our team's effectiveness. As the project unfolded, Arm’s leadership observed our dedication, turning doubt into unwavering confidence. Despite the challenges of labour strikes and the pandemic, our team's resilience and competence ensured the successful delivery of a world-class headquarters.

Sachin Suresh
Associate Director, Gleeds
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