First Look: Ferraro Choi shares renderings of Honolulu’s ‘Kakaako Innovation Block’

Honolulu architecture firm Ferraro Choi and Associates Ltd. has been tapped to design a part of the 5.5-acre “Kakaako Makai Innovation Block,” a partnership between the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the High Technology Development Corp. Ferraro Choi, which is designing the “Entrepreneur’s Sandbox” and is in the planning phase for the “Innovation Hale,” has…


choiHonolulu architecture firm Ferraro Choi and Associates Ltd. has been tapped to design a part of the 5.5-acre “Kakaako Makai Innovation Block,” a partnership between the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the High Technology Development Corp.

Ferraro Choi, which is designing the “Entrepreneur’s Sandbox” and is in the planning phase for the “Innovation Hale,” has revealed renderings for the 360,000-square-foot project.

The first phase would be the Entrepreneur’s Sandbox, a collaboration space for technology and enterprise, and the Innovation Hale, which would house technology and enterprise resources.

The hale would include a stand-alone commercial office and retail mall and ike, formerly DataHouse Holdings Corp., one of the biggest information technology firms in Hawaii, as well as Fisher Hawaii, one of the largest home and office product supply warehouse and retail stores in the state.

Other potential tenants could come from health care, technology, education and data services.

The second phase would consist of the Kewalo Incubation Center, a place for the High Technology Development Corp. facilities and a regional parking facility that would increase parking in the area from 400 stalls at grade to 600 to 900 stalls in a parking structure.

The center would cater to start-ups, with space rents backloaded and customized for flexibility.

The third phase includes a learning center with up to 150,000 square feet of facilities and the “Keawe Courtyard,” an outdoor gathering place.

Duane Shimogawa
Reporter
Pacific Business News