The Plant Master Plan has received the National Planning Achievement Award for Environmental Planning from the American Planning Association. Established more than 50 years ago, the annual awards program honors outstanding community plans, planning programs and initiatives, public education efforts, and individuals for their leadership on planning issues.
Developed by SOM with Carollo Engineers and Hargreaves Associates for the City of San Jose’s Environmental Services Department, the master plan is a culmination of a three-year process that included extensive community stakeholder participation. It creates an inspired vision for the reuse of over 2,000 acres that is no longer necessary for the operation of the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. Leveraging assets like proximity to the San Francisco Bay and an abundant supply of clean water, the master plan creates a physical planning framework for development that will strengthen the region’s economy, restore sensitive bay habitats, and provide new opportunities for community recreation and connection to the bay front.