UC Berkeley BAM/PFA Appendices

2120OxfordRepurposingforBAM/PFA

DesignguidelinesMarch2010

I.DESIGNOBJECTIVES
Campusprojectshaveaspecialobligationtomodelhowcreativedesigncanatonceminimizeresource
consumptionandenhanceenvironmentalquality(LRDP1).TheprojectshouldtargetLEEDGoldorLEEDGold
equivalencyandmaximizeopportunitiestomodelsustainabilitywhilehelpingthecampustoachieve
greenhousegasreductiontargets(DAP).TheprojectmustcomplywithUCsystemwidesustainabilitypolicy
(PDF).

Becausetheprojectsiteisuniquelywellservedbytransit,designandplanningshouldembraceandenhance
accessibilityateveryopportunity:
x
Siteanddesignthemuseumcomplextoenhancevisibilityandorientationfrompublictransportation
(2006Guidelines).
x
WorktoassuretherealizationofanattractiveandlivelypedestrianCenterStreetaboveShattuck
Avenue,onboththenorthandsouthsidesofthestreet(2006Guidelines).
x
Plantoencouragebicycleaccessbystaffandvisitors(2006Guidelines).

ThediversearchitecturalcontextintheCityEnvironsisresilientandreceptivetonewdesigngoalsand
directions,andforemostamongthosegoalsisthearchitecturalexpressionofsustainabledesign,whichshould
beembodiedbytheproject(PDF).Newinterpretationsofthecampuspalette(seebelow)shouldbewelcomed
atthesite,iftheyservetodemonstratehowhighstandardsofsustainableperformancecaninspireratherthan
constrainexcellenceindesign(PDF).

Theprojectmustrespectandenhancethecharacter,livability,andculturalvitalityofdowntownBerkeley
(LRDP).Additionsordesigninterventionsintheexistinghistoricstructureshouldrespectthecharacterofthe
existingbuilding,whilebringingvibrantplacemakingtotheendoftheartsdistrictonAddison,theconnection
betweendowntownandcampusviaCenterStreet,andtothecampusinterfacealongOxford.Theproject
shouldconveyanimageofsubstance,elegance,andpermanenceshapedbyenduringvaluesratherthan
ephemeraltrends(PDF).

Tothegreatestpossibleextent,newadditions,exterioralterations,orrelatednewconstructionshallnotdestroy
historicmaterialsthatcharacterizethepropertyat2120Oxford.Thenewworkshallbedifferentiatedfromthe
oldandshallbecompatiblewiththemassing,size,scale,andarchitecturalfeaturestoprotectthehistoric
integrityofthepropertyanditsenvironment(SOIStandards)

II.DESIGNCONTEXT

Citationsinparenthesesrefertothefollowing:
LRDP:UCBerkeley2020LongRangeDevelopmentPlan.
DAP:generally,CityofBerkeleyDowntownAreaPlanAdvisoryCommitteeDraftDowntownArea
Plan,November2007,referencedastheleastcontroversialversionoftheplan.
TaskForce:CityofBerkeley2004PlanningCommissionTaskForcereportonadowntown
hotel/conferencecenter/museumscomplexandpublicopenspace.[Note:Thecharacterofanyfuture
developmentatthewestendofthesharedblockisnotcertainasofthiswriting,andmaybelesscertainthanwhen
theTaskForceundertookitswork.]
2006Guidelines:UCBerkeley,BAM/PFADesignGuidelines,April2006.
PDF:UCBerkeley,PhysicalDesignFramework,November2009.

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DesignguidelinesMarch2010

VISIONFORTHEVICINITY
x
PrioritizetheDowntownforuniversityfunctionsthatserveorengagevisitorsandthepublic(PDF).
x

Conserve,adaptivelyreuse,andrespecttheareashistoricresources(TaskForce).

Design,construct,andoperateprojectsaccordingtogreenbuildingprinciples(TaskForce).

Emphasizealternativeandpublictransitinsteadofautomobileaccess,andprovideonlylimitedonsite
parking(TaskForce).

VISIONFORTHEPUBLICRIGHTOFWAY
x
CenterStreet:CreateapublicpedestrianorientedopenspaceorplazaonCenterStreetbetween
ShattuckAvenueandOxfordStreet(TaskForce).StrengthenCenterStreetastheprimarypedestrian
connectionbetweenDowntown,theBARTstation,andtheUCCampus(DAPatOS1.2).Establisha
CenterStreetPlaza(fortherightofwayofCenterStreeteastofShattuck)asthemajorpublicgathering
placeintheDowntownandasamodelforsustainabledesign(DAPatOS1.2.1).
x

OxfordStreet:Supportpedestrianandbicycleorientedimprovements.Maintaintwotravellaneson
OxfordandFulton,sothatdimensionthathasbeenusedforadditionallanescanbedevotedto
sidewalkwideningandlandscaping,andtoextendCenterStreetplazaimprovements.Consider
removingonstreetparkingand/orreducingtravellanes.UsepartoftheOxfordrightofwaytocreate
moregreenspaceandfacilitatepedestriancrossingandprogrammaticconnectionsbetweentheUC
CampusandDowntown.Streettreesshouldbegreatlyincreased,andmaturestandsoftreeswithin
andabuttingtherightofwayshouldberetained,iffeasible(DAPatAC2.1g,OS1.2.2andHD6.5).

III.DESIGNGUIDELINES

PUBLICREALM
x
TheproposedprimaryentryofthemuseumshouldbelocatedonCenterStreet,withasecondaryentry
providedfromOxfordorthecornerofOxfordandAddison.Loadingdocksshouldbecarefully
designedtocontributepositivelytothepedestrianenvironment;ifpossiblecombinegarageandservice
accessforMuseumwithfutureHotelatShattuckandCenter.Pedestrianfriendlyandpredominantly
transparentgroundfloorusesshouldbemaintainedonallthreesidesofthemuseum(DAPatLU7.6;
ED4.12).
x

Programinteriorspacestoenhancethepedestrianexperienceandshowcasemuseumprogramstothe
public(2006Guidelines).

ConsidertheuseoftheWestCrescentasasculpturegardentoincreasethepublicpresenceand
visibilityofthemuseumandreinforcetherelationshipofthemuseumtothecampus(2006Guidelines).

Maintainacontinuousstreetwallwithzerosetbacksatthegroundflooronallstreets.Theonly
exceptionstothismaybetoprovideusableopenspaces,specialcornerfeatures,recessedentrancesor
arcades(2006Guidelines).

CollaboratewiththeCityonamasterplanandguidelinesforpublicrealmimprovementsinthe
Downtown(PDF).

IncludestreetfrontageimprovementstoimplementthemasterplanineachnewDowntownproject
(PDF).

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DesignguidelinesMarch2010

Streetfrontimprovementsshouldincludeundergroundingsurfaceutilitiesandimprovingpaving,
planting,andlightingwithintheprojectfrontages(PDF).

DesignfutureprojectsintheCityEnvironstoframe,observe,andactivatethepublicrealmandinternal
openspaces(PDF).

Programanddesignnewbuildingstopromoteactivityin,andensurethesafetyof,placesofinteraction
andthepublicrealm(PDF).

CENTERSTREET
x
WorktoensureanactiveandtransparentedgealongCenterStreet,andconsiderationofmodulated
edgesandpocketsofopenspace.Workwithdesignersofabuttingprojectstoensurethattheirprojects
relatetothedesignofCenterStreetandstrengthentherelationshipbetweenDowntownandtheUC
Campus(DAPatOS1.2.1).
x

Designgroundfloorfrontagestomaximizethevisibilityoftheinteriorandobservethestreet.Atleast
75%ofgroundfloorfrontagesshouldbetransparent(2006Guidelines).

DesignthesidewalkstocomplementthoseonthesouthsideofCenterStreetintermsofscale,
landscape,andfurnishings,andtoaccommodatecafandpublicseating(2006Guidelines)..

Programgroundlevelfrontageswithentries,lobbies,retailspaces,andotheractivepublicfunctionsof
thebuildingprograms(2006Guidelines).

EnablethepotentialfutureclosureofCenterStreetbycommittingtoalongtermplanthatrequiresno
vehicularaccessfromCenterStreet(2006Guidelines).

LocatethemainentrancetothemuseumcomplexatthecornerofCenterandOxford,anddesignthis
entranceasalandmarkcompositionofarchitectureandpublicspace(2006Guidelines).

OXFORDSTREET
x
NewUniversitydevelopmentshouldhelpmakeOxfordmoreactive,withactivebuildingfrontsalong
thewestedgeofOxford(DAPatOS1.2.2andHD6.5).
x

Providegeneroussidewalksandstreetscapeimprovementsinordertoenhancethepedestrian
environment(2006Guidelines).

Designgroundfloorfrontagestomaximizethevisibilityoftheinteriorandobservethestreet.Atleast
50%ofgroundfloorfrontagesshouldbetransparent(2006Guidelines).

AspartoftheOxfordStreetlandscapetreatment,redesignthetwowestcornersatAddisonandOxford
tobecomeafittingterminusofboththeArtsDistrict(tothewest)andtheviewaxisthroughthecampus
centralglades(totheeast)(2006Guidelines).

ADDISONSTREET
x
CommittoalongtermplanthatconsolidatesallloadingandserviceaccessonAddisonStreet.All
servicedocksshouldbeentirelywithinthebuildingenvelope,equippedwithclosableoverheaddoors.
Allloading/unloadingoftrucksmustbewithinbuildingenvelope(2006Guidelines).
x

Minimizeandconsolidatethenumberofcurbcutsforservice/loadingandparkingentrances.Explore
waystooptimizeloadingandserviceoperationsbyconsolidatingmuseumandanyfuturefacilities
(2006Guidelines).

UC Berkeley BAM/PFA Appendices

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DesignguidelinesMarch2010

ProvidestreetscapeimprovementsonbothsidesofAddisonStreetinordertoenhancethepedestrian
experience,improvetherelationshiptothedowntownandArtsDistrict,andassurepedestriansafetyin
areasofparking/serviceaccess(2006Guidelines).

Totheextentpossible,maximizethetransparencyandvisibleactiveusesalongthegroundfloorfaade,
whilerecognizingtheprimaryaccesstobelowgradeserviceandparkingwouldoccurinthisblock
(2006Guidelines).

BUILDINGDESIGN
x
Theform,composition,scaleandrhythm,materials,andthelocationanddesignofentrancesandother
streetlevelusesinanyadditionorinterventiontotheexistingbuildingshouldrespectthehistoric
characterofthebuildingandtheurbandesigncharacterofdowntown(2006Guidelines,updated).
x

Designtheprojecttorespecttheformandscaleoftheurbanfabric,andframeandactivatethepublic
realm(PDF).Anyadditionorbuildinginterventionmustbelimitedtoaheightof100feet;anyportion
over85feetshallbeevaluatedtodeterminetheextentofshadingimpact(DAPEIR)

Additionsordesigninterventionsshouldatthesametimeexhibitexcellenceincontemporarydesign
(2006Guidelines,updated).

Accentuatethecornersasthefocalpointsofthesite(2006Guidelines).

LocatethemainentrancetothemuseumcomplexatthecornerofCenterandOxford,anddesignthis
entranceasalandmarkcompositionofarchitectureandpublicspace(2006Guidelines).

RedesignthetwowestcornersatAddisonandOxfordtobecomeafittingterminusofboththeArts
Districtandtheviewaxisthroughthecampus(2006Guidelines).

Encloserooftopequipmentsoitisnotvisiblefrompublicspaces,anddesigntheenclosureasan
integralelementofthebuildingarchitecture(2006Guidelines).

Allbulktrashcontainersandbuildingequipmentshouldbeconcealedwithinenclosuresdesignedas
integralelementsofthebuildingarchitecture(2006Guidelines).

EnsuretheprojectisinformedbytheBerkeleyCampusPalette(PDF).

Composeanybuildingoradditionprimarilyoforthogonalformswithorthogonalrelationshipsto
neighboringbuildings(PDF).

Designanybuildingoradditionover3storiestoincludeanarticulatedbase,middle,andtop(PDF).

IV.CAMPUSPALETTE(relevantexcerpts)

ThreeprinciplesareemphasizedforcampusdevelopmentintheCityEnvirons:campusdevelopmentin
theCityshouldcreateengagingplacesforinteraction;shouldfeaturehighqualitymaterialsandfinishes;
shouldbringelementsofthecampusparktothecity.

ROOFS
x

Finishparapetswitharticulatedcornices(PDF)

Considerspecialtreatmentoftopfloorstoenhancebuildingcomposition(PDF)

Concealroofequipmentwithenclosuresintegraltothebuildingarchitecture(PDF)

WALLSANDWINDOWS

UC Berkeley BAM/PFA Appendices

2120OxfordRepurposingforBAM/PFA

DesignguidelinesMarch2010

Composefacadesprimarilyofsolidwallsandpunchedwindowsthatrespectthestructuralgrid(PDF)

Useglasswallsprimarilyforspecialfeaturesorspaces,orwhereprogramneedsdictategreater
transparency(PDF)
o

Cladsolidwallsprimarilyinstoneorcastmaterialswithsandtextureandintegralcolor.

Suitablematerialsincludegraniteandprecastconcrete.

Othersuitablematerialsliketerracottaorsitecastconcretemaybeusedifcolorandtexturearesimilar
(PDF)

Variationsincolor,texture,orwall/windowratiomaybeusedtoarticulatebaseandtop(PDF)

COLORS
x

Onlargebuildings,selectprimaryskinmaterialswithinacolorspectrumoflightgraytolightecru
(PDF)

Smallerbuildingsmaydrawfromabroaderspectrumofcompatiblecolors(PDF)

ACCENTS
x

Selectmatteorsatinmetalsastrimandaccentmaterials(PDF)

Suitablematerialsincludecopper,bronze,zinc,andstainlesssteel(PDF)

THESECRETARYOFTHEINTERIORSSTANDARDSFORREHABILITATION
(FORREFERENCEANDCONSIDERATION)
1.Apropertyshallbeusedforitshistoricpurposeorbeplacedinanewusethatrequiresminimalchangetothe
definingcharacteristicsofthebuildinganditssiteandenvironment.
2.Thehistoriccharacterofapropertyshallberetainedandpreserved.Theremovalofhistoricmaterialsor
alterationoffeaturesandspacesthatcharacterizeapropertyshallbeavoided.
3.Eachpropertyshallberecognizedasaphysicalrecordofitstime,place,anduse.Changesthatcreateafalse
senseofhistoricaldevelopment,suchasaddingconjecturalfeaturesorarchitecturalelementsfromother
buildings,shallnotbeundertaken.
4.Mostpropertieschangeovertime;thosechangesthathaveacquiredhistoricsignificanceintheirownright
shallberetainedandpreserved.
5.Distinctivefeatures,finishes,andconstructiontechniquesorexamplesofcraftsmanshipthatcharacterizea
propertyshallbepreserved.
6.Deterioratedhistoricfeaturesshallberepairedratherthanreplaced.Wheretheseverityofdeterioration
requiresreplacementofadistinctivefeature,thenewfeatureshallmatchtheoldindesign,color,texture,and
othervisualqualitiesand,wherepossible,materials.Replacementofmissingfeaturesshallbesubstantiatedby
documentary,physical,orpictorialevidence.

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DesignguidelinesMarch2010

7.Chemicalorphysicaltreatments,suchassandblasting,thatcausedamagetohistoricmaterialsshallnotbe
used.Thesurfacecleaningofstructures,ifappropriate,shallbeundertakenusingthegentlestmeanspossible.
8.Significantarcheologicalresourcesaffectedbyaprojectshallbeprotectedandpreserved.Ifsuchresources
mustbedisturbed,mitigationmeasuresshallbeundertaken.
9.Newadditions,exterioralterations,orrelatednewconstructionshallnotdestroyhistoricmaterialsthat
characterizetheproperty.Thenewworkshallbedifferentiatedfromtheoldandshallbecompatiblewiththe
massing,size,scale,andarchitecturalfeaturestoprotectthehistoricintegrityofthepropertyandits
environment.
10.Newadditionsandadjacentorrelatednewconstructionshallbeundertakeninsuchamannerthatif
removedinthefuture,theessentialformandintegrityofthehistoricpropertyanditsenvironmentwouldbe
unimpaired.

UC Berkeley BAM/PFA Appendices

Historicbuildinginformation
DESCRIPTIONOF2120OXFORDSTREET(UCPRINTINGPLANT)

Thebuildingisareinforcedconcreteindustrial/officebuildingdesignedintheStreamlineModerne
stylebyMasten&Hurdandcompletedin1939.Thebuildingiscomposedofathreestoryoverbasement,flat
roofedofficewingfacingOxfordStreetandaonestoryoverbasementproductionshedwithasawtoothroof,
occupyingtheremainderofthesite.Thewestfaadeisablankandunfinishedconcretewall,asitoriginally
abuttedadjacentbuildingswhichhavesincebeentorndown;thenorthfaadeissimilarlyblankandlargely
obscuredtodaybyaUniversityparkinggarageonAddisonStreet.Theexteriorwallsarepouredinplace
concrete.Theeastandsouthelevationsarefinishedinpaintedstucco.Exteriordetailingisgenerallysimple
andrestrained,withmoldedconcretepiersalternatingwithverticalbandsofsteeloraluminumcasement
windowsontheeastfacade.
TheexistingbuildingisnotontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces,butanhistoricresourcestudy
preparedbyPage&Turnbullin2002foundthebuildingtobeeligibleundercriterionC,becauseitembodies
thedistinctivecharacteristicsofaNewDealera,WPAModernestylegovernmentbuilding;furtherunder
criterionA,asaplacewheretheUnitedNationscharterwasdesignedandprintedinJune1945.Exceptforthe
northwestcorner,theentireblockuponwhichthePrintingPlantstandshasbeenredevelopedsince1939with
1960serabuildings.
ThebuildingsOxfordSt.facadeis125feetlong;atCenterSt.,200feet;atthenorthfaade,200feet;and
atthewestfaade123feet.

ExcerptsoftheHistoricResourceStudy
Thecentralprincipleintheplanningofthenewbuildingwastheintegrationofeditorial,
managerialandprintingoperationsinonephysicallocation.TheSanFranciscofirmofMasten&Hurd,
wellknownfordesigningbothinstitutionalandindustrialbuildings,wasretainedandthedesign
processinitiatedinthesummerof1938.(UCPrintingPlantHistoricResourceStudy,page21)

Simplicityindesignanddignitywithoutpretentiousnessweresoughtbytheuseoflightly
markedverticalaccentsontheratherlowmainfaade.ComparedtootherUniversitybuildingsin
Berkeley,itissmall,harmonious,perfectlybalancedjustthequalitiesthatFarquharsoughtinbook
design.(quotefroma1940unsignedmemo;seeUCPrintingPlantHistoricResourceStudy,page21)

AlthoughthesimplicityofdesignwasoftenattributedtoFarquhar,theinvolvementofWPA
fundsinitsdesignandconstructionprobablyhadmoretodowithitsspareandefficientdesign(op.cit.,
p.21)
WPAguidelinesencouragedtheuseofheavydutyreinforcedconcreteconstructiontechniques
aswellastheincorporationofsimplifieddetailing.Theuseofeasilyformedconcreteandstucco
detailing,oftenseeninbuildingsdesignedintheStreamlineModerneStyle,wasaconsciousattemptto
grapplewithsmallbudgetsandsemiskillledornonskilledlabor.TheWPAguidelinesresultedina

UC Berkeley BAM/PFA Appendices

Historicbuildinginformation
consistentappearanceofprojectsfundedbythebureauandledtotheadoptionofthetermWPA
Moderne.(p.22)

theUCPrintingPlantissignificantasaresourcethatembodiesthedistinctivecharacteristics
ofatype,periodormethodofconstruction.TheUCPrintingPlantisanexcellentexampleofaNew
Dealera,WPAModernestylegovernmentbuildingbelongingtotheUniversityofCalifornia.TheUC
PrintingPlantissignificantastheonlyknownUCBerkeleystructuretobepaidforbyWPAfundsand
designedaccordingtotheguidelinesprovidedbytheSupervisingArchitectoftheUSTreasury,the
administratoroftheWorksProgressAdministration.ThroughouttheDepressiontheUniversityof
CaliforniahadsubmittedanumberoffundingrequeststotheWorksProgressAdministrationbut
foundtheirapplicationsrepeatedlydenied.Theapplicationforfundsin1938wasthefirsttimethatthe
UniversitywassuccessfulinobtainingthefundsandexpertiseofthissuccessfulDepressionera
program.(p.33)

TheUCPrintingPlantisoneofahandfulofStreamlineModernestylebuildingsonor
immediatelyadjacenttothecampus.WhileothermodernbuildingsdesignedintheArtDecostyle
predatetheUCPrintingPlantontheUCcampus,includingtheLifeSciencesBuildingandtheHeating
Plant(bothdesignedbyUCSupervisingArchitectGeorgeKelhamin1930),aswellastheEdwards
FieldsBleachersandHarmonGymnasium(bothdesignedbyKelhamin1933),theydonotexpressthe
extremesimplicityandmodernqualitiesofthelaterStreamlineModernestylePrintingPlant.(p.34)

Seealsopages35through38,attached,regardingtheintegrityofthebuildingandconclusionthebuildingis
eligiblefortheNationalRegister.

ExcerptoftheCityofBerkeleyLandmarkDesignationNoticeofDecision,June2004
(T)heparticularfeaturesworthyofpreservationontheUCPressBuildingat2120OxfordStreet
include:theofficewingseastandsouthfacades,includingtheirbases,piers,parapetwalls,spandrels,
windowsandsteeloraluminumsashes,glassandaluminumentrydoorsandsidelights,sconces,
canopy,andplaque(butnotnecessarilyincludingthepenthouse,theexistingsignabovetheplaque,
northeairconditionersandcomparablefixturesthatarenowlocatedatornearsomewindows);the
officewingsfirstandsecondfloorlobbiesandspiralstaircase,includingtheirfloorsandothersurfaces
ofterrazzo,theirwallandceilingplasterfinishes,thespiralaluminumrailing,thefirstfloorlobby
ceilingsrectangularlightingfixture,thestairwellspendantlightingfixtures,thetallaluminumframed
andmuntinedwindowadjoiningthestairs,thelobbiesadjoiningglassandoraluminumdoors,andthe
pedestalandbustofBenjaminFranklin(but[not]necessarilyincludingthelobbysdirectoryordisplay
cases,northeexistingpaintingorpaperingoverthetallwindowadjoiningthestairs);theproduction
shedssouthfaade,includingitsbase,piers,parapetwall,andglassblockwindows(butnot
necessarilyincludingthelargeopeningandrollupdoornearthewestend,thesecondaryentrance
farthereastnortheapparentpaintingovertheinsideofthewindows);andtheproductionshedssaw
toothroofandnorthfacingskylights.