Bancroft Commons

Nestled on a unique site directly opposite UC Berkeley and between two starkly different Berkeley landmarks — the historic Bancroft Hotel and the brutalist Bakar BioEnginuity Hub – this new building seeks to honor its neighbors while holding its own as a contemporary structure. With both context and program in mind, the design provides 78 units of student housing with inviting gatherings areas just a few steps from campus.

The warm modern design employs wood siding (the actual material is a cement siding that mimics the texture and color of wood) chosen as a contrast to the heavy board-formed concrete of the BioEnginuity Hub and the bright concrete stucco of the Hotel.

The common spaces are designed to take full advantage of the unique context: the double height lobby faces out to the neighboring courtyard, the cascading balconies reference the geometry of the Bio Hub, and the expansive roof deck overlooks the UCB campus, East Bay hills, and the San Francisco Bay. The 34,000 square foot building is currently in the entitlements phase.