Project Architect: Seidel/Holzman & Associates

A High-Quality Architectural Solution

The Hamptons at Cupertino broke new ground in 1997; it was the first apartment property in the Silicon Valley designed to cater to high-tech executives with young families. This $52-million, 342-unit community features a mix of large two and three-bedroom floor plans and contains over two acres of community recreational space. Community amenities include a junior Olympic pool with a large sundeck and spa, four tot lots, a basketball court, putting green, and indoor facilities including a club room, business center/teen study area, and fitness center. The site plan features a half-acre community green around which seven of the project's ten buildings are situated. Apartments feature gas appliances, full size washer/dryers, hardwood flooring in the kitchens and entries, and forced air heating and air conditioning. Prominently located at the intersection of Wolfe Road and Interstate 280, The Hamptons is surrounded by headquarters of major R&D facilities for Compaq Computer, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Java Division, Symantec, and Apple Computer. It is also within walking distance of the Vallco regional mall and numerous other restaurants and retailers. Since its completion in late 1998, the community has consistently maintained the highest occupancy levels and rental rates in the market.

Landscape Architect: The Guzzardo Partnership

The entitlement process for The Hamptons presented numerous challenges. Most significant were the City of Cupertino's concerns about the quality, quantity, and city-service cost burdens associated with high-density housing developed within its city limits. Thompson|Dorfman successfully addressed each of these issues and gained overwhelming public support for the development. Concerns about density and quality were addressed with a compelling architectural solution consisting of traditional New England design elements with significant articulation incorporating quality materials and details. The site plan featured large setbacks from major arterials, while building massing was focused towards the center of the site. Mature landscaping was both newly planted and restored on site to enhance project aesthetics and create a feeling of history and permanence. To address questions of potential over-crowding in local schools, a unique arrangement was negotiated to annex the site into a neighboring school district, which had a highly rated elementary school close to the project. The potential impact of The Hamptons residents over-taxing public facilities was resolved by providing a full complement of private recreational areas on site, one of the main factors now drawing new residents to The Hamptons.