Located in Brisbane, California, Genesis Marina is one of three case studies recently selected by AIA Architect magazine to illustrate a holistic approach to resilient design. In the article “Designing for disaster: How architects are building a resilient future,” writer Wanda Lau looks at resiliency efforts by three firms in the rising wave of climate disasters due to an increase in extreme weather, citing data compiled by NASA over the last 45 years.
In response to the accelerating rate of sea level rise in the Bay Area, the design approach behind the Genesis Marina biotech campus “holistically addressed multiple needs alongside resiliency, including public engagement, ecological restoration, and neighborhood invigoration,” said Design Partner Michael Duncan, FAIA. The three-building campus design anticipates future climate impacts by raising critical elements above the high-water mark, allowing lower-level elements like the parking garage to safely flood in extreme conditions without compromising the integrity of the building.
Planning for sea-level rise went hand-in-hand with enhancing waterfront accessibility, as half of the site perimeter is along a sensitive waterfront ecosystem. Significantly, the project adds a quarter mile extension to the Bay Trail, further enhancing it with new furniture, habitat, and separations including a low fence integrated into the planting to protect endangered wildlife. Demonstrating ecological durability, native plants in landscaped areas have already survived some of the area’s extreme high-water events like king tides.
