Design for New Residential Housing Approved

A UC Board of Regents committee approved Tuesday the design for a new residence hall that will accommodate continuing UC Berkeley sophomores and incoming freshmen.

Construction for the new residence hall will begin as early as next summer and is expected to be completed by 2012, according to Christine Shaff, communications manager for the department of facilities services.

In June, the regents passed the budget for the project, which is expected to cost almost $70 million. Berkeley city officials have also been presented with the plans during the last few months.

The new facility, which will be built in the current location of the Anna Head West parking lot, is projected to provide housing for 424 students.

The parking lot, located on Channing Way and Bowditch Street, will be torn down to prepare for the construction of the new residence hall. None of the current Anna Head buildings will be affected by the project.

Shaff said the Anna Head West parking lot was an ideal location to build a new residence hall due to its proximity to the campus, community and Crossroads Dining Commons.

According to Marty Takimoto, a spokesperson for Residential and Student Service Programs, the new residential housing unit is being funded by students' current housing fees.

"The money is raised through the housing project," Takimoto said. "When students pay for room and board, they are paying for the new dorm."

Several housing units on campus are currently undergoing renovations, including Clark Kerr Campus, which has been under construction since 2009.

Due to these renovations, Takimoto said it has been difficult to find a place to put students in need of housing.

"We have to figure out where to place all these students," Takimoto said. "It's kind of a balancing act between all the construction and meeting the housing needs of the students."

Takimoto said the new residence hall will provide affordable housing for students, especially considering the high cost of living in the Bay Area.

"As we try and plan for the future and think about renovating old buildings, we're making it a priority to make housing as cheap as possible for students," he said.

The majority of the project's design has been completed by local company Behnisch Architects and is close to completion.

"(Behnisch Architects) is working with the project manager, housing and RSSP on the design," Shaff said. "They'll be making the final tweaks soon."

Shaff said the completion of the renovations at the start of the semester will make it easier for students to move in.

"It's important with housing projects that we finish at a time that coincides with the academic year," she said. "It will be roughly 21 months before (the new housing residence) is finished."

Tags: ANNA HEAD WEST PROJECTS