Lume | Menlo Park, CA

Just off the 101 freeway in Menlo Park, this site sits beside Menlo Portal, another BDE project, in an area ready to grow into a true residential neighborhood. Greystar set out to create Lume, a community of 441 homes that would give residents room to live, work and connect.

Bringing that many homes to the site called for two seven-story buildings in Type IIIA over IA construction, organized so that daily life could spill outside. The ground floors had to do a lot of work: residential mixed-use amenity spaces, Wi-Fi-enabled cafes, bike parking, and 2,940 square feet of neighborhood space in one of the buildings. Between the buildings, a tree-lined paseo through the middle of the site needed to function as shared open space. With the design by Heller Manus, BDE Architecture served as architect of record, guiding the project from design intent to built reality.

Lume gives its residents a courtyard pool with lounge area and a rooftop terrace, along with a dog park and open space along the paseo where neighbors can gather, relax and exercise, adding a connected new place to live alongside its neighbor, Menlo Portal.

Address: 141 Jefferson Dr, Menlo Park, CA, 94025

Client: Greystar

Number of Units: 441 units

Construction Type: IIIA/IA

Photographer: Daniel Gaines (2024)

A modern multi-story residential building with colorful facade featuring red, black, white, and gray panels, lit up at dusk with illuminated windows and outdoor lighting, surrounded by a well-maintained sidewalk, bike racks, small trees, and street lamps.
Night view of a modern multi-story apartment building with illuminated windows, a landscaped entrance, bicycle parking, and surrounding trees.
A modern apartment complex with a pool area. The pool is rectangular with clear blue water, surrounded by white decking and lounge chairs. There are umbrellas and various seating options around the pool. The building facade features red and white wal
Modern hotel lobby with seating area, decorative ceiling lights, large windows, and contemporary decor.
Open-concept living room and kitchen with modern decor, including a gray sofa with a yellow pillow, a black and white patterned armchair, and a round black coffee table with candles. The kitchen features white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an
Modern gym with large windows, treadmill, elliptical, weight machines, and free weights, featuring wood flooring and ceiling lights.
Interior of a modern, stylish dining area with a marble-top table, various chairs, black walls with gold accents, pendant lighting, and large windows with curtains.
Modern living room with beige sofas, armchairs, and assorted pillows, a coffee table, and decorative wall art, with large windows and ambient lighting.
Modern lobby with large windows, contemporary furniture, potted plants, and decorative mirrors.
A landscaped courtyard with green chairs and small tables, young trees in planters, and a walking path surrounded by modern apartment buildings.