The May Lee State Office Complex (MLSOC) officially celebrated its grand opening in March 2024, marking the completion of the largest government office development in California’s history. Managed by the California Department of General Services (DGS), the $1.03 billion, 1.25 million-square-foot campus serves as an anchor for the revitalization of Sacramento’s River District. Constructed on a 17.3-acre site, the complex houses over 5,000 state employees across four mid-rise office towers, consolidating departments that were previously scattered in leased spaces. Notably, the progressive design-build project team achieved completion two weeks ahead of schedule and came in approximately $47 million under budget.
As an operational workplace, the MLSOC stands out as the largest all-electric, zero-carbon office complex in the United States. It holds both LEED Gold and SITES Gold certifications for its extensive focus on sustainability, native landscaping, and low-water micro-climates designed to reconnect the district to the Sacramento River. Recent post-occupancy developments highlight its functional community assets, including the Richards Market food hall, Grizzly Grind cafe, a 300-seat auditorium, a fitness center, and an on-site childcare center. The complex is named in honor of May Lee, a legendary state worker who served in California government for 79 years before passing away shortly before her 103rd birthday in 2023.
This particular development, reinstates California’s status as a key administrative hub in the US for the government and private sectors. This can be clearly seen with AeroVironment plans to set up a unified campus in the region.
April 26, 2024
Construction on the May Lee State Office Complex, California’s largest government building, has been completed. The new complex is located in River District, Sacramento and will house seven state agencies by the end of May. The May Lee State Office Complex stands at 1.25 million square feet and according to Sacramento Business Journal, it is the largest state government office project in the state’s history.
Construction on the project began in April 2020 while both state and private-sector office employees were working from home. Plans for the complex, however, begun way before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Project Cost
The project cost came to a total of US$1.03 billion according to a report to the Business Journal by Juli Kawahata, California Department of General Services’ project director. The complex has been named after the oldest and longest-serving state worker in California, May Lee who died last year at the age of 102 after nearly 80 years of service within the Department of General Services.
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The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the Department of Health Care Access and Information, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Civil Rights Department, the Department of Real Estate, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing will all move into the complex.
Project Scope
May Lee State Office Complex is located on a 17.3-acre plot of land. It has four buildings with the highest being 11 stories tall. The structure has also been designed to hold more than 5,000 state workers from all the departments aforementioned. What’s more, California’s largest government building is also the country’s largest all-electric, zero-carbon office complex.
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Amenities include a centre court plaza and skyways connecting some of the spaces, as well as a dining area, gym, daycare centre and auditorium to accommodate 300 people.
The Project Team
The building was designed by ZGF Architects along with Hensen Phelps and Dreyfus + Blackford. Kitchell Northern California worked as the project’s general contractor. “This building is the workplace of the future,” said Ted Hyman, ZGF’s managing partner. “It’s a civic building. And government buildings should be civic, it should give back to the public.”
The team worked together to finish the May Lee State Office Complex well ahead of schedule and US$47 million below budget. The Department of General Services, where Ms. Lee worked, has also applied the building as LEED Gold certified for its sustainable design and operation by the U.S. Green Building Council.
“I’m pretty excited to see her name on the building every day that I come in. This building really says a lot about her as a public servant. Seeing this today is just amazing,” said Chris Lee, May Lee’s nephew. He will also work in the complex as an employee of the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
ZGF Architects is a world-class Architectural firm originating from Oregon with seven offices across North America and 750+ staff. They famously designed The Mercat de Peix Research Centre, a 100% mass timber building together with high-performance mechanical systems unique for laboratories. Additionally, they designed the Doernbecher Children’s hospital. It is literally bridge a wide canyon and connect previously separate parts of the OHSU campus in Portland, Oregon. They are an industry leader in sustainable and regenerative design. Moreover, they have embraced sustainable design as a core value long before “green” or “LEED” became common phrases.
Project Factsheet
Project Name: May Lee State Office Complex (MLSOC)
Owner/Client: California Department of General Services (DGS)
Location: 17.3-acre site at Richards Blvd & N 7th St, River District, Sacramento, CA
Occupancy: 5,000+ state employees
Status: Completed & Opened March 2024
Financials and Execution
- Total Project Budget: $1.03 Billion
- Construction Contract Value: $940 Million
- Timeline: Completed 2 weeks ahead of schedule (40-month construction duration)
- Delivery Method: Progressive Design-Build
Key Project Specs and Infrastructure
- Total Gross Area: 1,250,000 sq ft across 4 mid-rise office towers (two 11-story, two 8-story)
- Parking Facilities: 7-story garage (1,291 spaces) + 317 surface spaces
- Primary Key Tenants: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH), and related state departments
Sustainability and Performance Ratings
- Decarbonization Benchmark: Largest all-electric, zero-carbon government campus in the U.S.
- Certifications: LEED Gold & SITES Gold
- Power Source: 100% renewable power via SMUD’s SolarShares program and on-site solar
Project Team
Construction Manager / Owner Advisor: Kitchell
Design-Builder / General Contractor: Hensel Phelps
Lead Architects: ZGF Architects & Dreyfuss + Blackford Architects
Landscape Architect: RELM Studio
