University of California—Berkeley, Units I & II Infill Student Housing

Berkeley, California

Firm

EHDD Architecture

Client

University of California—Berkeley Capital Projects

Area

322,471 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$80,000,000

Completion Date

01/2005

The program for this new project calls for more than 800 beds of residence hall and apartment-style housing that infills the streetscape at the Units I and II complexes. Existing dining hall buildings in the center of the complexes will be demolished to become courtyards for the residential community. The existing 80,000 square feet of below-grade space under the dining halls will be reprogrammed to accommodate new recreational, academic and summer conference spaces.
The project is in a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood. To reinforce the urban edge, the new infill buildings have shallow front yards and entry porches off the street. The scale and massing of the buildings are responsive to the rich, eclectic character of the neighborhood through respect for and creative interpretation of existing architectural and urban characteristics. While the new infill housing will be modern and include technologically advanced fiber optics and green building technologies, it will respect neighboring buildings with stepped massing and articulated facades.