Downtown Palo Alto's newest office project is situated across the street from City Hall and between two distinct architectural eras.

Just south of the site project is 630 Ramona St., a Birge Clark-designed building that went up in 1927 and that has all the Spanish Colonial trappings associated with Palo Alto's favorite architect: stucco walls, recessed arcades and a red-tiled roof. Immediately north of the project is 240 Hamilton Ave., a recently constructed four-story office building that was designed by Ken Hayes and that screams modernity with its metal bands, glass walls and boxy shape.

Hayes is also behind the new project at 616 Ramona St., which stands between the two dissimilar buildings and which takes cues from both. The plan is to partially demolish the existing two-story office building that has occupied the site since 1962 and rebuild it to create a third floor with a roof terrace. The new upper floor would only occupy the north side of the building, near 240 Hamilton Ave., a building a decade ago that sparked a community debate over architectural styles and that had to overcome a citizen appeal before winning the City Council's approval in 2013.

"Where the building abuts its southern, historic neighbor, deference is given: the design is restrained, the existing setback is preserved, and the overall building height is unchanged," Hayes wrote in an application letter that he filed earlier this month.

That said, the addition to the building would be very much in Hayes' modern style, with clear glass and bronze-like metal panels, according to the letter. Compared to its predecessor, Hayes wrote, the proposed building "promises to be a more active participant in the Ramona streetscape," with two separate entrance ways, one leading to the ground floor tenant and the other to a lobby that provides access to all floors. It is located directly across from City Hall and is one of just a handful of office projects that have been pitched in Palo Alto in recent years. The second floor of the building would have transparent glazing while the third floor would have access to a roof deck that Hayes suggested "invites occupants to work, collaborate, and dialogue with the elevated civic plaza across the street."

The developer behind this project is Hamilton Investors, LLC, according to the application, which is now being reviewed by planning staff and which will ultimately go to the Architectural Review Board for its feedback.