KPMG’s San Francisco office at 505 Howard
Details
Location:
San Francisco, CA
Client:
KPMG
Architect:
HOK
Category:
Workplace
Description
AlfaTech provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering for KPMG’s new San Francisco office located at 505 Howard Street. The project spans three contiguous floors totaling approximately 95,000 square feet and supports a dynamic workplace program that includes private offices, open workstations, conference and collaboration spaces, hospitality areas, and employee amenities.
A key feature of the project is the integration of an underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system, which delivers conditioned air through a raised floor plenum to improve occupant comfort, indoor air quality, and energy performance while allowing greater flexibility for future workplace changes.
The office also includes KPMG’s 15,000-square-foot Ignition Center, an immersive innovation and client engagement space designed to showcase advanced technologies and support collaborative problem solving.
AlfaTech’s scope included the design and coordination of HVAC systems, electrical distribution and lighting power, plumbing infrastructure, and fire protection and alarm systems. The team also designed dedicated 24/7 cooling systems to support IT and telecommunications rooms, ensuring reliable performance for the workplace’s digital infrastructure. Close coordination with the architectural and engineering team enabled seamless integration of building systems within a complex, multi-floor workplace environment.
Highlights
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Underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system for improved thermal comfort and adaptable workspace planning
24/7 cooling systems for LAN and IDF rooms supporting critical IT infrastructure
Integrated HVAC systems coordinated with the base building mechanical infrastructure
Electrical power distribution and lighting control coordination for workplace and signage
Performance-based fire protection and fire alarm system design
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Delivered a flexible, high-performance workplace supporting KPMG’s evolving workstyles and collaboration needs
Improved indoor comfort and air quality through UFAD and optimized HVAC distribution
Ensured reliable IT infrastructure through dedicated cooling systems for technology rooms
Successfully integrated new MEP systems within an existing high-rise building environment
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Used underfloor air distribution to enhance flexibility, allowing workspaces to evolve without major mechanical reconfiguration
Coordinated complex MEP systems across three floors within a dense corporate workplace layout
Leveraged BIM-based design coordination to visualize and align systems efficiently throughout the project lifecycle
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Energy-efficient HVAC strategies supporting improved thermal comfort and performance
Lighting power and controls designed to meet California energy code requirements
Efficient air distribution supporting reduced fan energy and improved system performance
LEED Gold v4
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