David Blackwell Hall at University of California, Berkeley

The 186,000-sf, mixed-use project combines urban planning principles, innovative sustainable systems, and campus design sensibilities.  The building provides 776 beds of first-year undergraduate housing organized into a series of pods consisting of double-occupancy rooms and gender-inclusive bathrooms.

Student amenities include an academic success center, fitness center, and entry lounge. The building includes 7,000 sf of ground floor retail and a new home for Stiles Hall, a mission-driven community service organization that has engaged students for over 125 years.  The project achieved LEED Gold through a variety of sustainable features and systems focused on reducing energy consumption. Air conditioning is provided only in shared spaces; residential units are served by low-velocity, tempered ventilation augmented by operable windows and supplemented by individually controlled electric radiant modules over the windows. Consuming 44 percent less energy than required, Blackwell Hall achieved an energy use intensity of 36 kBtu/square foot and meets the ambitious energy targets set by the AIA 2030 Challenge, performing 70 percent better than similar buildings in the same climate.