Elihu M. Harris
State Office Building
Oakland, California

The Elihu M. Harris State Office Building, a recent addition to downtown Oakland, houses local and regional offices for over two dozen government agencies. It complements both the Federal Building towers and historic City Hall nearby, putting the finishing touch on Oakland's government center.

Although the building rises twenty-three stories, it is set back from adjoining streets on two four-story podiums and sensitively scaled to less monumental surrounding structures. The two-block site required permanent closure of Fifteenth Street between Clay and Jefferson. This area is enclosed in a three-story glass atrium which provides a clear physical and visual corridor between the street and City Center.

The State Office Building impacts Oakland's urban fabric, altering the way in which visitors and commuters view the downtown. It adds a new sophistication to the skyline while providing a contemporary addition to the community and, at the same time, is sympathetic to its historic neighbors.

murakami/Nelson acted as affiliate architects to Richard Keating of DMJM Keating.