Top ten reasons Keller Mitchell & Co. has moved to Oakland 10. To save the daily $2 bridge toll. (Think of all the lattés that will buy!--or does that defeat       the purpose??) 9. To be geographically centered (more or less) in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.     (We figure we're less than an hour from almost anywhere!) 8. To support Jerry Brown's vision of a kinder, gentler Oakland. 7. So we can ride the ferry up and down the estuary at lunchtime. 6. To stop throwing rent money down the drain and start building equity for a     comfortable retirement (when we're about 87, we figure). 5. To put our new tool kit to use as office plumber, electrician and roofer. Where's the landlord??     (Oh yeah--that's us…) 4. To get free parking. On the street! In front of our building! (That goes for visitors,     too, so come on by!) 3. To support the organic farmers who sell their wares at Friday Farmers markets at     Jack London Square. 2. To improve our working environment, which will keep us all happy. (That, plus chocolate.)     And happy workers result in superior work. And the number one reason Keller Mitchell has moved to Oakland: 1. To reenergize ourselves so we can continue to meet--no, exceed!--our clients'     expectations in designing outdoor environments that engage, enrich and entice. Feel free to visit: 302 Fourth Street, Oakland (between Harrison & Webster) 18 Happy Years and Holding Strong We're well into our 18th year of operation. . . How time flies! It doesn't seem that long ago that we were boxing up all our stuff and moving out of our earthquake-damaged building on Mission Street, a mere year after we'd set up shop. It's been a great roll--one we expect will continue long into the future. Don't call it Astroturf Although we've been involved with sports fields and parks forever, we've recently developed an expertise in the replacement of school fields and tracks with synthetic turf fields and all-weather tracks. The current technology is pretty amazing, as long as you understand all the implications (and we do). We've completed fields for Oakland's Skyline and Castlemont High Schools, Acalanes High School's football field in Lafayette and Campolindo's baseball field in Moraga. Here, kitty, kitty. . . Over the past couple of years we've designed outdoor environments for a number of animal shelters--Contra Costa County, Sonoma County, San Jose, Lodi. These are fun and rewarding projects where we are able to create some really innovative spaces where potentially lifelong bonds are formed between animals and humans. We're thrilled to be involved in these projects. It's not easy being green Our attention to environmentally sensitive design and the green movement is growing in response to increased recognition by our clients of the value of incorporating green design principles into their projects. As an example, our design for Bella Vista Park in Oakland reuses existing materials, incorporates innovative stormwater management and provides opportunities for environmental learning. Two projects underway-Alameda County Juvenile Justice Facility and Bennett Valley Golf Clubhouse in Santa Rosa-are being designed to meet LEED Silver standards. Other project work Recently completed work includes Arroyo Avichi Neighborhood Park in Novato, which features a cool life-size climbable stone bear; a joint-venture housing project on Geary Street in San Francisco for the Institute on Aging and Bridge Housing; design of several storefronts/public areas and a podium-level courtyard and swimming pool at Santana Row, San Jose's new crown jewel; Powers Childcare Center, which incorporates a maritime theme consistent with the history of the area; and recently completed is a much heralded cultural and community center for the City of Morgan Hill that serves as a vibrant and visible gathering place for residents and visitors alike. Among the more interesting projects underway are Coliseum Gardens (Phase 3), one of several phases of residential family apartments that replaces a 1940s public housing project in Oakland; Grange Middle School in Fairfield; Campolindo lower sports field in Moraga; Gardella Gardens Senior Housing in Livermore and Dublin Senior Housing.