Pasadena’s Tallest Structure : 14-Story Gateway Plaza Will Cost $50 Million
Gateway Plaza, when completed in the fall of 1988, will have an unrivaled visible presence as the tallest structure in Pasadena, according to Pasadena Gateway Plaza Ltd., developer of the $50-million project. Ground breaking is set for Tuesday.
The 300,000-square-foot, 14-level office tower at 300 N. Lake Ave. will stand on 1.8 acres, of which about 65% will be landscaped courtyards and walkways. It is bounded by North Lake Avenue on the west, Corson Street on the north, Locust Street on the south and Mentor Street on the east.
Designed by Pedersen, Beckhart, Wesley & Stice, Gateway Plaza will be a triangular-shaped structure clad in rose granite and solar gray glass. Its strong faceted design allows for up to 20 corner offices on each floor. Space efficiency is 95.7% for full-floor users, with each floor providing up to 23,000 square feet.
The main entrance into Gateway Plaza is through a 22-foot lobby, with a polished stainless steel ceiling, offset by original art work and sculpture. A ground level plaza will have a paver of flame-finished granite and brick, a cascading water fountain, pools and garden area.
Parking will be provided in a separate 10-level structure, connected to the main building by a glass-covered walkway, with an allotment of 3.7 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet. A VIP arrival station will be located on Locust Street for the convenience of tenants and visitors.
Security and energy systems will be in place with state-of-the art equipment. All tenants and employees will be issued a building security card that enables access to the parking structure, building and after-hours elevator by passing the card in front of a proximity reader.
With the proximity reader allowing access, the information on who enters the building and at what times is recorded on a computer and can be retrieved whenever necessary. The same card will be used to activate utilities, heating, air conditioning and ventilation after hours and records the precise amount of energy used in a particular office space, so that tenants pay only for what they actually use.
The general partner of Pasadena Gateway Plaza Ltd. is Trenton Development Corp., Los Angeles, headed by H. Theodore Greene, also the developer of Century Square on North Lake Avenue. Ray Wilson Co. is the general contractor; John Alle Co. is the leasing agent.
