City Government

City Council Approves Kaiser Permanente Thrive Center To Centralize W orkforce in Downtown Oakland

Published

7 years ago

July 20, 2019

The Oakland City Council voted unanimously to authorize a DDA (Disposition and Development Agreement) with W/L Telegraph Owner, LLC or a related entity for the sale of 2100 Telegraph Avenue.

Alan Dones, Developer

“It’s not the Kaiser Project, it’s the 2100 Project,” said developer Alan Dones, speaking at the July 9 City Council meeting. “lt’s between my company and Lane Partners, and we’ve been working on the project for 10 years. This project is one that is going to contribute to the well-being and betterment of people to earn a good living, have good housing, as well as a great office project,” he said.

The project will house the new Kaiser Permanente Thrive Center headquarters in Oakland. The new building is scheduled to break ground in 2020.

Kaiser Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson previously had announced that the new building will accommodate the 7,200 national and Northern California Regional employees and physicians who currently work in seven different locations, and will enhance collaboration and provide more modern workplace technology.

Tyson said the design will emphasize green construction, and will include a health clinic, community meeting spaces, a showplace for locally inspired art and other benefits for the community which will include an increase of local tax revenues and help to create jobs in Oakland.

Bernard J. Tyson, CEO

This new downtown Oakland building will reduce operational costs by more than $60 million annually, addressing facilities maintenance, inefficient utility expenses and rising commercial real estate leases. Reinvesting these savings will advance Kaiser Permanente’s mission of providing high-quality, affordable care for its members and communities.

The new offices will include modern, environmentally sustainable, efficient working space with improved access to public transportation, all of which will support employee collaboration, productivity and Kaiser Permanente’s goal to be carbon net positive by 2025.

Kaiser Permanente’s 7,200 national and Northern California Regional employees currently work in seven separate sites, primarily in Oakland. Once construction of the Kaiser Permanente Thrive Center is complete in 2023, existing buildings currently owned by Kaiser Permanente will be acquired by local developer Lane Partners for renovation and commercial use.

Kaiser Permanente is the largest employer in Oakland and delivers significant economic impact to the city and the region. This new building is estimated to generate a one-time $23 million in economic benefit in addition to more than $15 million annually in local tax revenues for the city, according to site developer Lane Partners.

Over the coming months, Kaiser Permanente announced that it will engage its employees and the Oakland community in the planning and development of its new location, as well as best uses for public spaces in the building to foster collaboration and wellness.

Click HERE for more information on Kaiser Permanente’s future home.