Overseen by Signature Development Group and 250 Ninth Avenue Partners, LLC, with landscape architecture from JETT Landscape Architecture + Design, Orion Apartments is the first residential community to be built and come online at a vibrant new district on the Oakland, California, Estuary called Brooklyn Basin, a vibrant new district on the Oakland Estuary named after a historic settlement in the town.

Perched at the edge of the bay, surrounded by open space, Orion provides 241 residential units with a central courtyard that offers all the outdoor amenities that residents could want along with a pair of rooftop decks that provide views of San Francisco, downtown Oakland, Alameda, and the East Bay hills.

Two decades in the making, Orion paves the way for Brooklyn Basin to reinvent urbanism in Oakland in a new thriving waterfront neighborhood and collective community. Rising from Oakland's historic past, over 3,000 residential units are planned for the 65-acre, formerly derelict Ninth Avenue Terminal, reconnecting Oakland with a long forgotten
industrial waterfront.
Orion offers seven stories of premium apartments, townhouses, lofts, and penthouses to residents who seek sophisticated waterfront living in a new planned high-density, walkable neighborhood steeped in Oakland's shipping history. The residential momentum Orion has sparked at Brooklyn Basin makes the new development feel like a place to be, a place to discover, and a place that still is a bit wild, harking back to some of the first pioneers of Oakland.

The Area's History
In 1846, on a ship named Brooklyn, 250 passengers sailed 24,000 miles from New York to the growing colony on the San Francisco Bay (then known as Yerba Buena), not seeking gold, but to live a peaceful existence, free from religious persecution. The Brooklyn Saints, as many of the ship's passengers were known, were instrumental in building San Francisco and surrounding cities, roads, and
civic buildings.

On the east side of the San Francisco Bay, the growing Brooklyn settlement was commemorated by the ship that had brought these industrious settlers to California. Located adjacent to present day Oakland and across the inlet that would be dammed to form Lake Merritt, Brooklyn flourished as a bustling port community connected by ferries, roads, and bridges.

Annexed by Oakland in 1872, Brooklyn Basin's industrial usefulness continued, and the 1930 opening of Ninth Street Terminal extended its industrial purpose. Over time the port slowly deteriorated until it was permanently closed in 2015 making way for new life to emerge from this underused maritime and industrial area.

 

And Now Today
Brooklyn Basin's new pioneering residents will enjoy a 30-acre network of public parks, open spaces and a new Bay Trail section skirting restored wetlands, a new marina, vibrant streetscapes, and a blend of cultural elements that are uniquely Oaklandish. The developer's vision in integrating the former loading dock geometry into Township Park and reinventing the Ninth Avenue Terminal Building as a shopping and dining destination further shore up the neighborhood's attractiveness to individuals and families who voyage to this new community to set down roots or visit for the day.
For Orion, JETT Landscape Architecture + Design's landscape design draws inspiration from stunning panoramic views from the San Francisco skyline to the East Bay hills and a new connection to the Oakland Estuary.

Forms and materials used in the landscape speak to these visual hints: tidal mudflats inspired pavement textures and plant forms (grass-like species reflect breezes moving through the outdoor spaces); gathering spaces are protected inlets (from the wind); and trees offer islands within the courtyard for visual and solar protection.

JETT worked with a multi-disciplinary design team and a client with intimate understanding of Brooklyn Basin to design usable and visual landscaped spaces that accentuate what it means to live along this reclaimed coastline, connected to the nature of the estuary in a way that was not previously possible due to decades of port operations.

JETT used the bohemian Californian style of the building to design a distinctively upscale collection of community-cultivating amenities in a series of outdoor rooms with views at each level and seamless indoor-outdoor connections that lead to moments of relaxing retreat, bird watching, dining, and soaking.

As a multi-family, mixed-use development, Orion offers residents a range of unit types and a plethora of shared amenities including a welcoming lobby, gym, small and large community spaces for socializing, lounging, work-from-home, or events, a pet wash to support this pet-friendly community, a bike room and repair station, ample package storage (critical for contemporary high-density communities), and close proximity to urban conveniences and services.

Ground Level
Residents and guests arriving at Orion are greeted at the doorstep with a palette of plants waving in the breeze, including Mimulus, Arctostaphylos, and Lomandra, with the tops of Cercis trees beckoning from the podium courtyard above.

Ascending the front steps and stepping into the richly appointed lobby is an enjoyable daily procession, whether coming back from a jog along the Bay Trail or returning home after work. The ground level townhome units that front the pedestrian mews have a direct connection to the pedestrian network at Brooklyn Basin. Here, board form concrete was used as a nod to the industrial history of the site, with this finish being use frequently at the ground level throughout the development.

Courtyard
The heart of the outdoor spaces is the central courtyard located above the podium garage. Removal of the waterfront facing units at the courtyard level took a slice out of a typical donut-style central courtyard concept but not only opened the space to the waterfront views but also increased the number of units with these views.

The ship analogy was the spark for the courtyard design. At the front (bow), a glass railing with drink rail supports a BBQ kitchen, dining, and firepit lounge program with water views. At the rear (stern), a raised spa deck anchors the courtyard. Between (amidships) lays a quiet zone with hammocks, sloped turf mounds, and seating opportunities for individuals and small groups to bridge the gap between active elements.

Rooftop Decks & Mezzanine
Perched on the upper levels of the building, at the edge of the bay, surrounded by open space, the two rooftop decks and adjacent mezzanine areas recapture otherwise lost space and maximize allowable building area. Sweeping views of San Francisco and Oakland skylines, Alameda, and the East Bay hills are provided by these decks.
Arrival upon either roof deck immediately offers serenity in a dense urban environment. A range of seating opportunities allow residents access to all-day sun; fire pits that provide warmth during cool evenings; and a BBQ kitchen with adjacent dining and lounge gathering areas. A green roof planted with Ruschia nana creates an expansion of green space while maintaining occupancy
load requirements.

Team List:
Landscape Architect: JETT Landscape Architecture + Design
Architect: BAR Architects
Developer: 250 Ninth Avenue Partners, LLC
Civil: BKF Engineers
Interiors: Pura Vida Design Group