Foster + Partners has released design for the new Uber Air Skyport in Santa Clara showcasing what aerial ridesharing hubs could look like in the future in the Bay Area. 

Developed by Related Companies and Uber Elevate, a new vision designed by Foster + Partners will elevate the mission of Uber in air network for a future skyport at Related’s 240-acre Santa Clara development to illustrate the benefits aerial ridesharing could provide for the Bay Area and other cities in the future.  

Foster + Partners' new skyport is designed as part of Related’s new mixed-use development in Santa Clara designed by Foster + Partners. A new world-class destination will be built in the heart of Silicon Valley. 

Uber Air, an app-based flying taxi system, was unveiled as part of its ground-based taxi sistem. The new Uber Air aims to promote urban mobility for the future of urban transport on air.  Uber Air will propose aerial ridesharing that enables rapid, reliable transportation through a network of small electric VTOLs (eVTOLs) that can take off and land vertically. Unlike helicopters, Uber Air vehicles "eVTOLs" will all-electric.

The skyport at Related’s Santa Clara development, designed by Foster + Partners, is envisioned along a major traffic artery. The flight deck is designed to charge up to five eVTOL aircraft at a single time. It also has a dedicated landing area and dedicated take-off area, with enough separation to allow for simultaneous flight operations.

Uber’s first U.S. Uber Air cities will be Dallas-Fort Worth/Frisco Texas and Los Angeles, California and the company aims to hold first flight demonstrations in 2020 and make aerial ridesharing commercially available to riders in 2023.

Foster + Partners' new skyport renderings with Related provide a forward looking vision for when aerial ridesharing is more widely available in cities across the U.S. Locating a skyport in Santa Clara will be preceded by the necessary governmental collaboration, approvals and processes with an operational opening occurring in the future.

"We are thrilled to be working with Related to design skyports for Uber Air, a key part of taking Uber’s transportation platform to new heights. Together we look forward to spurring innovation that can help improve urban mobility in cities around the world," said Head of Uber Elevate, Eric Allison.

"Our shared commitment to innovation and passion for cities and enhancing urban life makes this an ideal partnership. Related has been exploring, investing in, and implementing new forms of urban mobility from bike-share to self-driving vehicles- and urban aviation is the next frontier. We're excited to work with Uber Elevate to bring new forms of mobility to our customers and communities," said Related Companies CEO, Jeff Blau.

Since 2016, Uber Elevate has been working with government and industry stakeholders to create the world’s first aerial rideshare network with safe, quiet, and electric Uber Air vehicles that would transport tens of thousands of people across cities for the same price as an UberX trip of the same distance. 

Related is one of the country's largest real estate developers, known for its city defining, mixed-use developments and innovative residential and commercial offerings in many of Uber's biggest cities.

All images by Foster + Partners

> via Related Companies