Massive building going up at major Fresno/Clovis intersection. Here’s what we know
From an aerial view, the large and unique structure being built across from the Target shopping center in Clovis seems to resemble a mini stadium.
At street level, it might look more like a car dealership. The site does, after all, neighbor a Honda dealership to the west. There’s also a Nissan car lot a block to the east.
But there will be no sporting events here at the Herndon Pinnacle Office Complex.
Nor will there be a fleet of new cars for sale.
However, the two-story, 45,000-square feet structure that’s going up just east of the Willow and Herndon avenues intersection is being designed to attract people through bold architecture.
During a time when working from home has become more common, a Fresno developer is hoping a more aesthetically appealing approach to architecture will motivate people to come to the office.
“Work is not just a place you go to 9 to 5 — it’s really a second home,” said Herndon Pinnacle Office Complex developer Onkar Sandhu. “And we really want the people who work in these buildings one day to find as much joy in them as we found designing them.”
Space available at Herndon Pinnacle Office Complex
What the Herndon Pinnacle Office Complex will get used for remains to be determined.
And any amenities to be offered inside the building would be decided by whoever leases the space.
There have been talks of the complex being leased out for medical offices or a surgery center.
Or maybe a law firm moves in.
“The project is really an open canvas that’s able to be used for either one tenant or multiple tenants,” Sandhu said.
Construction timeline for building at Willow and Herndon
Construction has been ongoing since July 2024 — and as the development has progressed, the building has generated more attention and curiosity.
In particular, onlookers are drawn to the distinctive roof overhang that is slightly curved with no hard corners.
Inside, each level of the Herndon Pinnacle Office Complex building is 22,500 square feet.
Sandu said the building exterior is expected to be completed in October.
Phase 2 will follow, with another 45,000-square-foot building built in similar fashion.
In all, the entire construction site spans seven acres.
“We want to make sure the architecture stands proud on Herndon Avenue, and people as they’re driving by the building, they can actually enjoy (it),” said Arun Kaiwar, an architect and senior principal at SmithGroup, which is the award-winning architecture company used to design the Herndon Pinnacle Office Complex.
Building details
The Herndon Pinnacle Office Complex certainly is not the typical office space.
And it’s not just about looks.
The roof overhang isn’t just striking.
The uniquely shaped rooftop was designed to reduce energy consumption, with a canopy that provides protection underneath but also lets in as much sunlight to reduce the need for artificial lighting inside the building.
Most notably, the roof overhang design helps reduce solar heat that could penetrate through the building considering the number of tall windows.
“One of the things that comes out of this is you end up reducing the cooling load of the building,” said Peter Buffington, a senior design principal with the SmithGroup who works out of the San Francisco office. “Basically, instead of paying for air conditioning and using a lot of electricity to cool the building, you can substantially reduce that amount.
“This is really how performance-driven design changes the shape and characteristics of a building.”
In addition, the Herndon Pinnacle Office Complex went with a curtain wall, which is a common trait in modern architecture but not used much with Fresno-area buildings. A curtain wall essentially is taking glass and hanging it from the building as opposed to stacking it up.
Plus, the aluminum paneling, considered a high-end architectural material, offers a sleek, modern exterior aesthetic.
“It creates a very elegant sort of skin system for the building,” Buffington said.
There’s also the greenery layout that complements the complex, featuring a dense collection of trees that will be planted in and around the parking area.
It’s projected that in 12 to 15 years, the trees will be large enough to provide 60% coverage of parking structures and protect parts of the building structures, too.
A wellness garden also will be created to provide lush landscape spaces and pathways.
“It’s a place where they can feel good if it becomes a clinical space,” Kaiwar said of the wellness garden. “That’s the inspiration for the building design, the whole concept of wellness.”
Sandhu said his trips to bigger cities where skyscrapers are plentiful and unique architecture designs stand out motivated him to do much more than a cookie-cutter office design.
“Seeing the buildings in Washington (D.C.), seeing (and) walking through San Francisco ... I saw all the beautiful buildings there,” Sandhu said. “It really inspired me to really bring the best projects that we can to Fresno and Clovis. ...
“We wanted to build something that was really innovative, something that we could all be really proud of in this community that we call home.”
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 1:17 PM.
