The Urban Confluence Silicon Valley competition announces winning design proposal

In September 2020, the competition's jury announced its three finalists: "Breeze of Innovation" by SMAR Architecture Studio, "Welcome to Wonderland" by SCI-Arc M.Arch I student Rish Saito and the "Nebula Tower" by Qinrong Lui and Ruize Li.

After several rounds of jury reviews, Silicon Valley may have found its new landmark. The winning proposal is said to "symbolize people standing and working together." On March 25th, Fernando Jerez and Belén Pérez de Juan of SMAR Architecture Studio were announced as winners of the competition for their proposal "Breeze of Innovation."

Designer Fernando Jerez shared, "Silicon Valley is not about replicating the past; it's about shaping the future. Our goal from the beginning was to capture the ever-changing magic of Silicon Valley while also creating a deep connection with the San José community. This is why we came up with the idea of designing a dynamic landmark, one that is alive, moving with the wind and light, a magical space that includes a tribute to the San José Electric Light Tower of 1881. We want visitors to enjoy a unique experience on their ascent, connecting with the memory of the Valley while dreaming about its future possibilities."

According to the Urban Confluence Silicon Valley competition, the duo will present their winning design before the San José City Council in May 2021 for approval. The project has raised more than $2.5 million.

To learn more about the project details click here. To learn more about the competition's finalists and their projects click here.