Mentor Graphics is moving to Fremont!

Written by Beth Martin February 17, 2010 Hits: 729 Favorites

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Mentor recently announded that it purchaced a 3-building campus in Fremont, and the entire San Jose operation will be moving in later this year. The new Mentor campus has been vacant since 2002. Can anyone guess who the previous owner was? Anyone? Yes, you over there. Avanti Corp, correct. Mentor bought the old Avanti site, which has sat empty since the 2002 merger of Avanti and Synopsys.

The campus was actually designed and started by Cirrus Logic, before they retreated to a standard of living more in line with their income. Avanti snatched it up in 1998 or 1999 (anyone recall?) and moved everyone from their squat Sunnyvale office complex. I worked there at the time, and aside from the inevitable disruptions caused by a major relocation, it was a pleasure to work in nice surroundings. However, even the fancy buildings couldn't make up for the terrible management, so I fled as soon as possible for greener pastures (aside: Cadence was a greener pasture in those days!).

How strange will it feel to pad around those buildings again after all these years? Will I have flashbacks? Or is this an opportunity to shed some of the negative memories formed there a decade ago? Working for Avanti was really the pits, but I genuinely like working at Mentor. Mentor management has never been an embarassment, and not just because Dr. Rhines and the executive staff are not felons.

Another thought: I wonder if the image of Mentor as a dowdy, sensible matron will change once we're in buildings with good feng-shui and a hip water feature in the lobby? Although the buildings have fancy trim that is quite beyond Mentor's conservative style, I understand the campus was a fantasitc bargain.

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Written by :

Beth Martin