The CED Guidebook by cedambassadors

VOLUME II | SPRING 2021

illustrations by akshata atre, 2017

WELCOME TO

the college of environmental design offers a unique interdisciplinary learning experience. our college is home to four majors-- architecture, landscape architecture, urban studies, and sustainable environmental design-- as well as a wide range of minors and graduate programs. this guidebook is meant to provide students with information and advice about what life is like here at ced. we’ll take you through wurster hall level-by-level and provide you with tons of information about resources, facilities, classes, majors and minors, and more. for even more information about the college, please email cedambassadors@berkeley.edu or visit ced.berkeley.edu

Table of contents 1

Acronyms & Abbreviations

Bauer Wurster Layout

Why CED?

The First Floor

The Second Floor - Library & Advising

The Second Floor - Sustainable Environmental Design

The Third Floor - Faculty Offices & Research Centers

The Third Floor - Landscape Architecture

The Fourth Floor- South Tower

The Fourth Floor - Urban Studies

The Fifth Floor - Architecture

The Sixth Floor - Architecture

The Eighth Floor - Architecture

Lab Resources

Minors

Course Advice

CED Student Organizations

Campus Life

Things to Do

Places to Eat

More Information

Acronyms & abbreviations We use a LOT of acronyms here at the College of Environmental Design, so here’s a quick guide to the alphabet soup of CED: CED : College of Environmental Design ED (1, 4, etc.) : Environmental Design (the category of courses) DFL : digital fabrication lab, located in the second floor courtyard Fab Shop : the fabrication shop, located on the second floor “Arch” : (pronounced “arc” or “arch,” up to you) short for architecture Review : a presentation of design work, usually in the Wurster lobby Studio : short for a studio class, also refers to the studios where architecture students work and build models. LA : Landscape Architecture CP : City Planning DCRP : department of city and regional planning GIS : Geospatial Information Science, an important tool in the city planning field SED : Sustainable Environmental Design Cal : UC Berkeley GSI : Graduate Student Instructor, a grad student who leads discussion sections and labs Upper div : Upper division courses, numbered 100-199, usually taken in your junior and senior years Lower div : lower division courses, numbered 1-99, usually taken in your freshman and sophomore years DeCal: a student-led course that you can take for a couple of units, pass/no pass. DeCal course info goes up just before the semester starts-check them out at decal.berkeley.edu/courses

Bauer Wurster layout

City Planning studio

Landscape architecture studio

environmental design library

Bauer wurster lobby & Lecture hall

Architecture studios faculty offices

CED it services + computer lab(s)

ced advising

center for the built environment (sustainable environmental design)

fabrication shop & digital fabrication lab

why ced?

the student perspective

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Many factors of Berkeley attracted me, especially the diverse selection of opportunities that the school provides. The interdisciplinary approach of CED is really appealing, as it allows students to learn and think with a broader perspective and engage with all types of fields. What really sold me on coming to CED was the environment filled with amazing projects, brilliant students, and super helpful and kind faculty. This was the type of environment that I wanted to be in and I’m grateful that I am here today! Melody, Architecture, ‘22 In high school I was interested in art and environmental science and I was looking for a way to combine them into a major. I was excited by the multidisciplinary nature of CED and commitment to design and sustainability. I also liked that CED was a small college and had a great sense of community. Kylie, Landscape Architecture, ‘20 CED felt the most at home for me. The interdisciplinary courses have allowed me to be exposed to different ideas and hear different perspectives that have allowed me to have a better understanding of approaching different problems. I enjoy the environment within CED. There’s always someone doing something, people are moving and the energy is great. The creativity within CED is great to be apart of. Edgardo, Urban Studies, ‘20

I was immediately drawn to CED's uniquely inter-disciplinary approach to sustainability. Whereas different programs have disciplinary focuses, or even multi-disciplinary concentrations, CED pulls all of these ideas together in a comprehensive, intelligent, and coherent way! Toby, Sustainable Environmental Design, ‘21

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“I chose to transfer to CED because the classes offered more opportunity for discussion and interaction, even in lower division courses. My experience in these classes allowed me to apply my outside knowledge to look at concepts from different angles, and the faculty were also super responsive to our student perspectives. Wurster also became my favorite building in my first few weeks on campus; the atmosphere feels so much more alive and interactive than other spaces on campus. Also, my favorite thing about CED is that everyone dresses so much cuter than other students on campus. We really put that design thinking into the fits!”

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Navid, Urban Studies, ‘22

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I fell in love with Wurster and CED almost immediately. I love how many resources are packed into Wurster-- a fabrication shop, a digital fabrication lab, the advising staff, the library, the environmental design archives . . . I could go on. I also really appreciated the interdisciplinary nature of all the programs in the college. The students at CED are also probably the nicest people on campus-- pretty much everyone is always willing to answer your questions, lend you materials, or even just talk.

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Akshata, Architecture, ‘21

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I fell in love with CED after taking ED1 and LA12 because of how friendly and close-knit the class environment was. Everytime I sat next to someone new in class, they would also say hi and strike up a conversation which was so different from the huge classes I took in L&S [College of Letters and Science] which made me feel so small and anonymous. I really enjoy the classes that challenge us to work in groups, and the variety of classes I take that give me an interdisciplinary education. Kristine, Sustainable Environmental Design, ‘20

I chose CED because Berkeley was good for everything and as someone who is really curious, I appreciated being able to get an excellent education on any topic that I wanted in addition to landscape architecture. Julia, Landscape Architecture, ‘20

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the first floor bauer wurster lobby

The first floor is a hub for a lot of activity in CED. It houses our main lecture hall; the Wurster Gallery; a lobby space where design students pin up and present their work; a cafe, and several classrooms.

Our lecture hall is called Wurster 112, and it seats about 150 people (which is the maximum size for our classes!) There are also awesome guest speakers who talk to the CED community about their work once a week-- be sure to stop by!

This staircase leads up to the second floor (more on the next page) & Wurster Courtyard (pictured on a couple of the previous pages. If you look closely you can spot a great study spot under the stairs :)

Pretty much anytime you walk into Bauer Wurster, some of our amazing students will be presenting their work! Be sure to stop for a moment to check out what students in other majors and classes are up to.

environmental design 1 introduction to environmental design Welcome to ED 1! As a student at CED, this class will be one of your first. ED 1 introduces you to the world of design, its theories, its functions, and its practice. This class will teach you all you have to know about being a designer as you venture your way into architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and sustainable environmental design. All four undergraduate majors at CED will take this lower-division class alongside each other to develop their skill, craft, and passion toward design, whatever form it may be. Traditionally, this class is taught through a balance of assigned sketchbook reflections (written work) and sketchbook designs (hands-on work) all leading toward a final design project—a city carved from the interior of a book. Are you ready to begin your design career?

SKETCHBOOK REFLECTIONS

Learn about place-making (i.e. what makes a city or location special/meaningful?) Find inspiration from the designs and plans of everyday options and imaginative text Notice and value the narratives unfolding in space (i.e. what activities, interactions, and sensory experiences unfold in a space?

SKETCHBOOK DESIGNS

Envision: Set goals and a vision for your final project that you will incrementally produce throughout the semester Cut: Practice the craft and precision of building up (or, in this case, cutting down) your ED 1 book-carving project Collage: Learn how to collage creatively while maintaining intention Plan: Compose a “plan oblique” using axonometric projections Layer: Reveal textures and depth to form a complex space Build: Construct solid pieces out of the appropriate material (e.g. paper) to inhabit space and fabricate your city’s architecture and landscape (with consideration toward place-making) Model: Test your design on a smaller scale Finalize: Turn your city design into a book-sized reality At the end of the semester, this class will have one large gallery showcase featuring every student’s book-carving project. Seeing all the designs laid out, table after table, definitely brings fruition to your hard work! And who knows, your book might be one of the few selected to be showcased in Bauer-Wurster Hall’s display cases.

Amanda Calindas Architecture ‘22 Professor Nicholas de Monchaux Fall 2018

Adeline Leung Architecture, ‘22 Professor Nicholas de Monchaux Fall 2018

Trilian Truong Sustainable Environmental Design ‘22 Professor Nicholas de Monchaux Fall 2018

Phi Diep Landscape Architecture ‘21 Professor Achva Stein Spring 2019

Akshata Atre Architecture 21 Professor Nicholas de Monchaux Fall 2017

Avery Fong Architecture ‘23 Professor Nathan John Fall 2019

Jessica Chou Architecture ‘23 Professor Nathan John Fall 2019

Montse Nava Architecture ‘23 Professor Nathan John Fall 2019

The SECOND Floor Sustainable Environmental Design Major Sustainable Environmental Design - A Definition A broad explanation of the SED major is that you will be learning ways to adapt the built environment—like infrastructure and transportation—social systems, and even city plans to environmental issues (e.g. climate change, natural disasters, etc.). The major also explores mitigation strategies that work to alleviate our ever growing environmental concerns. Besides environmental sustainability, the major also teaches us the importance of economic and social sustainability. These three pillars are the key players in ensuring the wellbeing of our people and our planet for the distant future. That's basically what sustainability is—it's being mindful of the natural resources, materials, and land utilized as we continue to urbanize, as well as making sure our impacts do not negatively affect future generations. What You'll Be Studying:

The SED major is interdisciplinary, so the curriculum intends to equip you with knowledge from different fields. Examples include architecture and its history, city planning and the theories behind it, economics, architectural/urban design (hand drawn, collage, digital, etc.), effective ways to design diagrams, environmental science, and more. It's okay if you aren't interested in some of these, because after you get the requirements out of the way, you can concentrate on where you want your studies to go.

SED is what you make of it, whether it's housing, community development, environmental policy, transportation, etc. The curriculum aims to be flexible enough that you can choose classes that work in your best interest while still graduating on time. In other words, by graduating as an SED major, you'll be knowledgeable in the fields of sustainability, mitigation, and adaption, but you can also focus your education if you choose. If you're more interested in environmental policy, you can take classes relating to that.

"As an SED major, I'm lucky to take classes in all of the majors at CED. These classes mainly teach about theories behind design, strategies and implementations toward sustainability, and the people we are designing for. My LA130 class about Sustainable Landscape and Cities and a guest speaker from my Arch 242 Sustainable Colloquium class got me interested in advocating and designing for green living walls!" - Trilian, SED Major '22

The SECOND Floor SED Recommended Area Concentrations As you work your way through your SED lower and upper division requirements, consider what you would like to focus your sustainability studies on. Perhaps you are interested in packaging or product design, environmental protection policies, resource management, or human equity.

Sustainability issues have emerged in economics, society, policies, technology, and more. Hence, here are four examples of potential concentrations and two example classes for each that can support your journey toward becoming an expert in a particular sustainability field.

If these suggested concentrations are not to your interest, we highly encourage you to explore other courses on UC Berkeley’s class website! Remember to check what semester the class is taught, how many seats are available, if there are any prerequisites, and if you have any time constraints (e.g. class is taught at the same time as another). If you have any other course/requirement related questions, please book an appointment with your college advisor.

Gennaro Brooks-Church Green Walls

The SECOND Floor AN interview with SED professor eric cesal Professor Cesal is the Director of the Sustainable Environmental Design Major and a Lecturer in Sustainable Environmental Design at CED. He teaches a variety of courses, most recently Environmental Design 106: Sustainable Environmental Design Workshop. He graciously agreed to share his story and some of his thoughts on what makes CED so special. What choices, personal or otherwise, led you to the college? I am a a post-disaster architect/designer by trade. I find my deepest insights about and from the built environment where and when it ceased to be. Only in its absence can you fully understand and appreciate the built environment’s fundamental role, purpose, and effects.

Why do you think students should come to CED? CED offers extraordinary opportunities. Regionally, the Bay Area is one of the most “special places on the planet.” It has unequalled access to industry and environments, both social and ecological. And yet, there are also no shortage of issues to be solved and remedied.

My extensive work in post-disaster design was a defining period--setting the course and establishing the goals of my professional life. Following the Nepal earthquake, I found I could not rebuild places faster than they were coming down. Acknowledging the only worsening conditions of climate change, I found I could no longer focus on isolated instances: planning for a singular hurricane, flood, or disaster events. Instead, I found greater value in preparing planners and designers of the future to address these issues--to greater number and effectiveness than me alone.

People have a tendency to think only about the college itself, but the context should be another dimension. Few schools have access to as many resources on and off campus: faculty, physical resources, as well as its history. Not many other design schools have such a lengthy or involved history with activism. CED’s curriculum is based on multiand interdisciplinary excellence. It pulls together different disciplines and terrains of thought; it embraces the collectivization of ideas and practices.

What is your philosophy towards teaching? I treat my students as adults; my students are fully actualized people with their own wills and agendas, strengths and talents, so I treat them as such. As a teacher, I want to give them the skills to approach and take into the world. This, I find, is the role of the teacher--not to re-produce my own thoughts or opinions, but to further actualize and allow students to succeed.

Do you have any advice for students? Be the author of your own future; college is an extraordinary opportunity to do so. Berkeley is a place with an incredible density of incredibly gifted students and faculty; the scale of which is unparalleled. Students should also start thinking about things from the beginning. I find that students only really consider what they are passionate about, or towards what their skills are suited at the tail end of college. Rather, you have to be more intentional and deliberate in your courses. While clearly, your ideas and plans are meant to change, take classes that are meaningful to you.

The Third Floor Faculty Offices + Research Centers The third floor is your go-to stop for finding your GSIs and professors for office hours. It also houses several research centers run by CED faculty, such as the Institute for Urban and Regional Development, the Center for Cities and Schools, and the Center for the Built Environment. Descriptions for what each of the centers does is listed below. If you're interested in any of the work that the organizations do, look into student research and internship possibilities!

“Through collaborative, interdisciplinary research and practice, IURD supports students, faculty, and visiting scholars to critically investigate and help improve processes and outcomes that shape urban equity around the world.”

Wurstershire Wurstershire Sauce Sauce Courtyard

“The Center for Cities + Schools at UC Berkeley conducts high-quality, non-partisan policy research, engages youth in urban planning, and cultivates collaboration between city and school leaders to strengthen all communities.”

This bench was a project from the 2010 class of Landscape Architecture, and is now a peaceful courtyard that is a good spot for relaxing.

The Third Floor Landscape Architecture Studio The third floor is also home to the Landscape Architecture studio, the greenest studio in Wurster. This studio is unique in that it is shared by undergraduate and and graduate landscape students. The studio also overlooks the Environmental Design Library, and has its own side exit on the northern side of the building. Landscape Architecture - A Definition The field of landscape architecture is often misunderstood. Simply put, it is the study and design of everything outside of the building. As designers, we strive to emphasize ecological sustainability and social equity through our projects. We focus on existing social, cultural, historical, and ecological contexts to inform our interventions. Tips for Incoming Students

Helpful Tools/Websites

4th floor (north tower) advice for urban studies students Urban studies is a flexible major, so it’s important to make it what you want. Part of this is making sure you understand what options are out there. Start by familiarizing yourself with the major requirements and talking with advisors about what you want to study. Are you interested in transportation? Sea level rise? The possibilities are endless!

What classes should I take?

Go to public lectures! Okay, these are usually in a classroom, but it’s worth it to go. They can be a great way to find out about various urban issues and further explore what you’re interested in.

Try to take ED4 series classes in your first year. They have a more general focus and are a great place to meet new people.

ADVICE FROM AN URBAN STUDIES GSI

Take classes outside the major (and college) which may help you find a focus. This can also be an opportunity to explore double majors or minors. Start thinking about technical skills. What do you want to be able to do and where can you learn this. Decals and clubs can also be a great way to build skills.

Urban Studies outside the classroom Get to know other urban studies students! Berkeley Urban Studies Student Association wants to bring the urban studies community together and also to connect with the broader urban context of the City of Berkeley.

Get involved with the Berkeley community. From volunteering to attending city council meetings (or even just reading their web site) learning about urban context is fun and imporant

"CED has many fields working for the same mission: to create an innovative and equitable public space. Wurster Hall is the embodiment of different visions of what a city can be. In CED, every classroom is different because the university gives us freedom in creating our own academic environments and spaces. It's not only dreaming with our students and peers, but figuring out how to make that real!" “It's essential to lead and Highlight what you can bring to the environment, not focus on what you are lacking.” David Garcia, Masters of City Planning

Spotlight On PROFESSOR Sai Balakrishnan Sai Balakrishnan is an assistant professor of city and regional planning, in a joint appointment with DCRP and GMS (Global Metropolitan Studies). Her interest in the social life of masterplans: who built our cities, who belongs to our city, and who has the right to the city. On why she came to Berkeley, Professor Balakrishnan said she appreciates CED’s “interdisciplinary approach to the topic [of urban studies] and faculty’s commitment to the progressive city and social equity and justice. CED has a diverse student body, students come from all across the world with different backgrounds. Berkeley students have a very strong commitment to their major and approach to the progressive planning.” Be sure to check out her class, CYPLAN 115: Urbanization in Developing Countries this fall!

THE FIFTH FLOOR Architecture studio culture The fifth floor is the first level of architecture studios. This is where architecture students take their first two studio classes, and also where LDArch 1 happens in the spring. Course Selection There is a structured schedule that most architecture students follow, but if you jump ahead and take an uper division course like the 170 series (history) or 160 (construction) during your first couple years, you get to meet a lot of architecture upperclassmen. Talk to your advisor about this! The CED website also offers descriptions on special seminar courses! ED 1: HAVE FUN in this class! It might seem overwhelming, but try to enjoy the creative freedom offered in the course. Additionally, you can use it as an opportunity to make non-architecture friends!

ARCH 170A&B (History of Architecture): If you can, try and take these classes in your sophomore year. That way you have more time to focus on studio in junior year, supplmented by fun, non-major courses

ED 4 Series: Take this in your freshman year so you can get a jump start on your upper division classes by sophomore year Pin up inspiring artwork

Studio Desk This is a studio desk! You’ll have access to a new one each semester as an architecture student. You can access your desk 24/7, safely store your stuff, and never have to hunt for a seat at the library ever again. Have fun decorating your space and making it into a comfortable workspace-you’ll be spending a lot of time here! A tip- bring a blanket! Studio tends to get cold at night. Safely lock up your belongings in your desk

the sixth floor Advice for ARCHITECTURE Majors Upper division architecture studios take place on the sixth and eight floors. The seventh and ninth floors are for graduate studios. In upper division studios, classes are divided into sections of 14-16 students, each led by a faculty member. Below are some tips and advice about the major to help you get the most out of your architecture experience! Time Management

Resources

Time management is important... make sure that your schedule includes time to take care of yourself! You and your work will be much better for it. Studio may be hard at times, but even during late nights, everyone in studio is supportive.

Join architecture clubs like AIAS, CASA, and APX. They offer many professional development resources like firm tours, alumni panels, and resume/portfolio workshops.

NO PROJECT IS WORTH PULLING AN ALL-NIGHTER! Seriously. It’s better to go to a review with a 90% finished project while well-rested, than to show up to review sleep-deprived with a rushed project. On that note, prioritize a lot of sleep before big deadlines!

The Career Center also offers similar professional resources! CED also offers many lecture series with diverse speakers. The library is an amazing resource! Take a look at some building plans or architecture magazines in the folio or bound journal stacks for inspiration.

Software & Supplies

Some great places to get model-making and drafting supplies: Inkstone (Telegraph Ave) Artists and Craftsman (Shattuck Ave) BLICK Materials (Tenth St) FLAX (15th St)

The Fabrication Shop and Digital Fabrication Lab are great resources. Shop staff are SUPER helpful, even if you have personal projects! There are also fee waivers available! The Jacobs Makers Pass also offers similar services for a lower price. A lot of software is also available for free trials to students: Rhino (90-day) and V-Ray (30-day)

Studio Pin-Ups

Pin ups are group discussions of work, with the whole class/studio section or smaller group

Desk Crits

Desk crits are one-on-one discussions with your studio instructor

Lecture Series

Go to weekly lectures! They usually happen on Wednesday evenings and host amazing speakers!

Cafe Strada

You'll get very familiar with Cafe Strada quickly! It's homey, is a great place to enjoy the sun, and is open late

the eighth floor an interview with architecture professor c. greig crysler Professor Crysler is the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies here at CED,. He is also a professor in the Architecture department-- many of you will take his course on architectural theory and criticism, ARCH 130, in sophomore year. Professor Crysler graciously agreed to sit down for an interview with us to give us some more insight into his career and CED. How did you get started in Architecture? I was raised in a small town outside Toronto, Canada, where I had an early interest in art, drawing, and architecture. Later on, I attended the University of Waterloo in Canada (UW), where I recieved a BES in the School of Architecture. This degree was more engineering and math-focused. Conversely, I really appreciate how our BA program at Berkeley offers a broad exposure to the discipline. I then leveraged a co-op program offered at UW to get a post in London. I really took the initiative to pursue this opportunity-- I was among the first at UW to secure an international position. I finished out my first degree and the co-op program at UW. I really loved the UK, so I made the switch to The Architectural Association (AA) in London. AA was a much more studio-focused program that was a better fit for me personally. What were some of your first jobs after school? In London, I worked with Alan Stanton (who worked with Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers on the Pompidou Center in Paris) at the early start of his practice, and then went on to work with several other firms. It was a busy period in architecture, and I ran some projects before I was really ready, a kind of “baptism by fire.” How did you get into teaching? I was asked to teach at The AA after graduating, leveraging the one day off of work I had per week to teach and look at critical theory/writing). I eventually moved back to Toronto, where I joined forces with some of my peers to work on some projects. I also worked with General Idea, a collective of artists, on projects that were a mix of art/architecture. We also set up an architectural journal with grants from the Canada Council. The only journals at the time were trade journals for professionals, very uncritical, so we chose to write about

critical theory, architecture and urbanism in Canada. I then went on to attend Binghampton University for my Ph.D, Graduate Program in the History and Theory of Art and Architecture. I was good at drawing and design, but at that point had no real humanities background, and I was really interested in global issues and their impact on cities. Eventually, an opportunity opened up in Chicago to fill in for an adjunct professor at University of Illinois at Chicago who was on sabbatical. I was hired by Katerina Ruedi, a peer of mine from AA (a note here: it’s important to keep in touch with your classmates!) How did you end you end up at CED? I secured a position at UC Berkeley in 1999 and saw it as a great opportunity to look at architecture outside the traditional western canon, to question euro-centrism. It is an enormous privilege to be in the US academic system,-- it has a very high quality of instruction, level of intensity, and innovation. It is also the pinnacle if you are interested in social theory and social issues. There is also lots of social engagement on campus – lectures, culture and projects-- it’s an amazing research campus. It goes without saying that Cal is the #1 public university in the country. Berkeley is also more than an institution-- it’s an idea. The undergraduate program at CED also provides a broad learning opportunity that allows students to pursue interests (art, etc.) that might be left out of a traditional B.Arch program. Ialso appreciate the small scale of the college because it allows for a lot of individual attention.

Your senior year in architecture:

studio vs research track

One super great aspect of our Architecture program is the flexibility you have in senior year to choose between a studio track (in which you complete two studios in senior year) or a research track, in which you develop a thesis. Below are stories from a couple of students on why they chose the track they are on.

Studio track

“Initially I wasn’t sure which track I should take. I am a person who loves to dive into research, but I realized that I wanted to build my design skills while still here at Berkeley. I ended up loving the studio track because of the community and the way that the other CED classes complement studio. Classes like ARCH 160 (Introduction to Cosntruction) that teach you how to use the shop work great in conjunction with model making for studio. Although I love the ways the classes build off of each other in studio and helped me become a better designer, the best part for me is the community. Being in Bauer Wurster with my classmates and being able to see everyone working together to accomplish their goals is a great feeling. I won’t forget the friends I made and the lessons I learned in the studio track anytime soon.” Tyler, Architecture ‘21

research track

“I selected the sustainability research track and focused my research on non-mechanical kinetic architecture, more specifically, materials that have embodied energy and can move independently from electricity or any other aid. I have enjoyed my research and being able to pick a topic on my own, not following the studio selected topics. Lindsay Baker, our professor, was very open and supportive when it came to the topic selection. We have also had the option to make the research be a pure academic paper (only text) or include a project that would illustrate the research (writing and designing). In the last case, we were able to pick the site and scope of work on our own as well. This track is great for everybody who has interest in a specific topic in architecture that is not covered in senior studios or any other design topic beyond architecture. For example, architectural materials, policies around sustainability, historic preservation, interest in specific sites or culture etc. We were able to design our own semester by picking the materials to read, finding people to interview, and creating our own individual schedule with individual deadlines. Since the research track is tailored around you by you, you have to be quite motivated to complete it and finish it with the deadlines you set for yourself. If you are interested in research by not sure about the topic you want to explore, you will have a whole fall semester to think about it. Be ready to read and write a lot! Whether you pick a studio or research you don’t lose anything. Both tracks are great! Enjoy your last year in Berkeley! It’s going to be fun.” Alexandra, Architecture ‘21

Digital Fabrication Lab

LAB RESOURCES On top of tailored assistance on studio and course projects, you can get help working on personal projects in the Fab Shop and DFL! The Fab Shop also features a Materials Store (no more lugging lumber on the bus!) that offers materials at a discount. Proceeds also fund fee waivers for Fab Shop and DFL acces :)

Fabrication Shop The Fab Shop opened in 1956, and since then has operated for students. In the shop, you can work with materials like metal, wood, and even concrete. Some popular tools include welders, sand blasters, rotary saws, wire strippers, and evena cement mixer. One tip is to keep a pair of pants at your desk if you have one. That way, you'll always be dressed properly for fab shop (long pants, closed-toe policy).

Digital Fabrication Lab The Fab Lab is a relatively new addition to Bauer-Wurster, having opened in 2014. Since then, the lab has been operating exclusively for CED students. In the space, you'll have access to laser cutters, CNC routers, 3D printers, blade cutters, and more machinery. If you aren't familiar with some of these tools, don't worry! There is mandatory training and staff to help you bring your projects to life.

Minors

A minor is a great way to explore some other skills and concepts beyond your major curriculum!

GIS fire risk analysis mapping

It’s completely up to you if you choose to do a minor or not! It’s definitely possible to have a minor (or minors) with any of the majors at CED. There is an amazing spectrum of areas that you can minor in. Choose what interests you and you will naturally make connections between the content you learn in your different courses. In taking all those classes for your minor, you end up meeting a whole different group of people (especially if you minor in something outside CED). That is something very valuable that can add to your college experience. Though there are some minors that require a lot of early planning for scheduling purposes, not all minors require you to decide as soon as you enter college. Some people don’t decide they want to minor in something until later in their college career and they still graduate on time. After a couple of years, you might already have completed the requirements for a CED minor without realizing it! If you are interested, do some research and talk to an advisor!

Minors within CED

Minors Outside of CED

Sustainable Design

Geospatial Information Science and

The Social and Cultural Factors in Environmental Design

Energy Engineering

Environmental Planning

Global Poverty and Practice

City and Regional Planning

Technology

History and Theory of Landscape Architecture and

Structural Engineering

Environmental Design and Urbanism in Developing

Disability Studies

Countries

History of the Built Environment

Course recommendations CED Major Handbooks When signing up for classes, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS remember to CHECK YOUR MAJOR HANDBOOK!!! It’s super important to make sure you are on track to graduate, and the handbook is your go-to for keeing on schedule.

tinyurl.com/cedhandbooks

@BerkeleyGuide on Twitter If you’re looking for classes last minute, check out this account-they are always posting about interesting classes that have open seats. Perfect for if you forgot that you had course registration and are scrambling for some last minute units, or if you’re just curious to easily explore the breadth of classes Berkeley has to offer!

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN 100: The City: Theories and Methods Professor Michael Larice

CITY PLANNING 120: Community Planning and Public Policy for Disability Professor Victor Pineda

ED 100, taught in the spring by Michael Larice, is a great introductory class to theories and methods in urban studies. Not only do you understand urban form patterns and social interactions within rural and urban life, but the assignments intend to teach you how to construct a professional research paper/report.

This course offers students a whole new and super-valuable perspective on design-- how can we ensure that our designs are accessible to people with disabilities?

CITY PLANNING 190: Y-PLAN: Race, Place, and Equity Through the Lens of California Youth and Schools Professor Deborah McKoy

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE 1: Drawing a Green Future Professor Chip Sullivan

This is a particularly unique class in which you have the opportunity to mentor grade-school students around the Bay Area and get them engaged in the planning process. Professor McKoy’s Y-PLAN methodology allows you to learn about planning right alongside the students. A great way to get some hands-on experience!

A must-take CED class, this course is a great introduction to the fundamentals of drawing. The professor, the incredible Chip Sullivan, really engages students in a meaningful way, and there is no art experience requried to take the course.

FRESHMAN & SOPHOMORE SEMINARS

ARCHITECTURE 144: Introduction to Acoustics

Look for these in the course catalog! A variety of departments offer these especially small courses that give you the opportunity to learn from one of Berkeley’s many esteemed professors in a seminar-style setting.

This short module-style course allows you to dive into a more technical aspect of architecture that isn’t always discussed in other courses. Similar modules on daylighting and other topics are also offered at various times.

ARCHITECTURE 140: Energy & Environment Professors Gail Brager & Stefano Schiavon One one of the best classes to take on building performance and has a very strong focus on teaching architecture students to not just be focused on the aesthetic design, but also be aware of the environmental impacts of the building.

CITY PLANNING 160: The Origins of Practice and Community Development Professor Carolina Reid This course is a great introduction to the basics of community and economic development, covering a broad range of topis from community land trusts to the myriad of federal policies that affect urban life at the neighborhood level. Professor Reid is a terrific and incredibly engaging lecturer, and you are sure to leave the course with a new perspective on the role you can play in improving your community.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE 140: Social and Psychological Factors in Open Space Design Professor Anna Brand This course takes a user-oriented approach to design, on ethat takes into consideration the environmental needs of vulnerable populations--children, elderly, disabled, low-income families. The course really makes you think analytically, and is a lot of fun!

PUBLIC POLICY C103: Wealth & Poverty Professor Robert Reich One of the must-take classes at Cal, this class offers a broad overview of the root causes of and solutions to wealth and eocnomic inequality in the United States, using international case studies as a comparative device for understanding these complex issues. Professor Reich is something of a celebrity on campus (check out his documentaries on Netflix), and it’s a great opportunity to learn from him.

ESPM 40: Insects and Human Society Professor Rodrigo Almeida A perfect course for your Biological Science breadth, this course is a broad overview of the anatomy, taxonomy, and lives of insects and how their worlds intersect with ours. An easy, fun class filled with interesting bug facts!

POLITICAL ECONOMY 100: Classical Theories of Political Economy A somewhat challenging class that allows you to engage with the intellectual and philosphical frameworks from which most of western civilization is derived.

DESIGN COURSES

INNOVATION

Offered through the College of Engineering’s Jacobs Institute, these courses are a nice way to explore design principles and learn more about how to use the makerspace (3D printers, laser cutters, etc.)

PSYCHOLOGY 2: Emotional Intelligence Feeling stressed? Under pressure? This class will help you understand why AND how to deal with these difficult emotions. Topics include stress, negativity, coping, habit retainment, and more!

ARCHITECTURE 142: Sustainability Colloquim ARCH 142 is a lecture-based class. Each week, a different professional in the field speaks to students about their work or research, and the semester wraps up with a poster exhibition where students can share what they’ve learned throughout the course. This class is a great way to get exposure to the myriad of opportunities available to you after graduation.

CED Student Organizations (not a comprehensive list!)

CED Admissions Ambassadors The Admissions Ambassador team is a diverse group of CED students that works with professors, alumni, and faculty advisors to introduce prospective (as well as concurrent) students to all the resources CED has to offer.

CED Undergraduate Student Council CED UgSC is the official governing entity of undergraduate students of the College of Environmental Design. It is made up of 1-2 representatives from every undergraduate major in CED, elected by CED undergraduate students. UgSC addresses and communicates undergraduate student needs to admin.

American Institute of Architecture Students Affiliated with national AIA through AIA East Bay, AIAS seeks to create a community within CED. The organization offers professional development events, educational development, and community building activities.

American Society of Landscape Architects ASLA Berkeley Student Chapter is the student group representing all students studying landscape architecture and environmental planning (serving BLA, MLA, MLA-EP, and Ph.D students).

Berkeley Urban Studies Student Association BUSSA is the undergraduate student association for urban studies majors, city planning minors, and all other students at UC Berkeley interested in city planning.

Chicanx/Latinx Architecture Student Association CASA aims to serve, support, and care for students in the design field - all majors are welcome! Their history is rooted in supporting Latinx students, but they strive to create a safe space for all students in need of support.

Pilipinx Association of Scientists, Architects, and Engineers PASAE serves as a close-knit support group for students in the technical fields, providing student members a space for social interaction, cultural understanding, professional guidance, and academic support.

CED Students of Color CED Students of Color aims to develop and expand the academic and social support, mentorship, career networking, and advocacy efforts for students of color and other underrepresented students within the College of Environmental Design.

Alpha Rho Chi Alpha Rho Chi is UC Berkeley's premiere co-ed professional fraternity for architecture and the allied arts. APX promotes professional development, lifelong relationships, academic support, and extensive networking.

Sustainable Housing at California Through hands-on and interdisciplinary projects, SHAC offers an educational experience for students, brings about positive impacts to our community, and develops innovative technologies and methodologies for the world beyond.

Cal Construction Join the Construction Team and learn how architecture and design is applied in the construction industry through professional coaches that teach our students what we need to compete in the annual ASC Competition in Reno, Nevada.

places to eat

NORTHSIDE

DOWNTOWN

Gregoire: artisan french takeout restaurant whose chef previously served for the Ritz-Carlton

Jupiter: fun and fancy pizza, also really cute vibes with all the string lights and sometimes live music

Seoul Hotdog: Five STAR on Yelp! korean hotdog shop, the price is generous Free Speech Movement Cafe: located inside of the Moffit Library, open until 2 am Cheeseboard: a much-loved pizza place / combo bakery & cheese shop

Venus: yummy breakfast, especially the pancakes La Note & Berkeley Social Club: popular brunch spots -- definitely get in line early on the weekends Platano: really great Salvadoran food! Try their pupusas! Asha’s: high quality tea and drinks, and they also have a seasonal menu. (arguably makes the best matcha lattes too) Marugame Udon: Japanese udon place, with different types of side orders. U:dessert story: known for their delicious crepe cakes

SOUTHSIDE

OAKLAND

Cafe Strada: conveniently located right across the street from Wurster, and has really strong coffee

Shan Dong Restaurant: the best Chinese food you’ll ever have. definitely order their hand pulled noodles and dumplings

Super Duper: AMAZING soft-serve ice cream (and the burgers are good too) Muracci’s: really yummy Japanese style curry, and you get an extra portion of rice with your Cal ID! The Musical Offering: good drinks, live music twice a week! And a cute CD/record store in the back The Faculty Club: literally a 2 minute walk from Wurster, and there’s a bar (but beware you might run into professors!) Kimchi Garden: classic Korean restaurant, has spacious seating for large groups, free miso soup for dine in. + try Bingsu, shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings.

Shooting Star Cafe: cute Hong Kong style cafe, popular for late night munchies. Try out one of their baked dishes! OB Town: sone of the best Korean fried chicken. go at their happy hour for the best deals Cholita Linda: *amazing* tacos and definitely try the pork Cuban sandwich. really cute vibes inside too Ohgane Korean Restaurant: one of the default kbbq places for meat lovers, open until late night.

Campus life

“

Outside of CED, I have found other communities that helped me meet new people while enjoying my hobbies! UC Berkeley is filled with a variety of clubs and organizations that I was able to explore during my time here.

”

Amanda, Architecture, ‘22

While Wurster and the CED community are awesome, there are so many other cool places to explore on the UC Berkeley campus. Meet people outside of Wurster through other classes and organizations-- it never hurts to make those connections! Take advantage of being in a small college within a large university!

Attend an event on Sproul!

Go to a football game!

Join a student organization! Check out Callink and Calapalooza to learn more about what clubs are out there! callink.berkeley.edu If you're interested in community service and volunteering, you could sign up for Berkeley Project by yourself, with friends, or with your organization as well. Other opportunities to get involved include the YWCA, the Gill Tract Farm, working at the Botanical Garden, becoming a Campus Ambassador, and SO MUCH MORE!

Explore other academic departments! Take fun classes outside of CED. For course listings, check out the Berkeley Academic Guide and also their twitter account @BerkeleyGuide for suggestions for courses with open seats! UC Berkeley’s departments are renowned all-around-- take advantage of that!

Study at Doe or one of Cal’s many other beautiful libraries!

things to do around berkeley

Tilden Park: has a nice little farm with cute animals that you can feed! Also a perfect little getaway for a picnic that’s not too far from campus

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Lawrence Hall of Science: free for students. Exhibits are kinda geared towards children, but still pretty fun to visit and they have an animal discovery room too!

UC Botanical Garden: free admission for students, and really great visit and walk through (or bring a date? ;)) They also have a plant sale once a semester, so you can cop some nice plants or succulents.

Fire trails: really great hiking trails, starts behind Clark Kerr or behind Memorial Stadium (you’ll see lots of cute dogs too). Just don’t go after it rains because it gets way too muddy.

Watch the sunset with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Campanile.

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Berkeley Art Studio: really cool classes like ceramics, screen printing, jewelry making, etc. You have to pay for these classes, but they also have free popup workshops each month.

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Trivia nights at Triple Rock every Thursday starting at 8. You don’t have to be 21 to play, only to order drinks.

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BAMPFA: art museum with free entry for students!

Check out the Berkeley Farmer’s Market on Saturdays for good street food, fresh fruits and veggies, and live music!

Attend Oakland’s First Friday events! There are stalls set up along Telegraph Avenue every first Friday of the month. Try the amazing food and enjoy the arts.

things to do around berkeley

Decompress sitting Strawberry Creek in Eucalyptus Grove.

Want more information?

Talk to a CED Admissions Ambassador:

tinyurl.com/cedconnect Take our CED Major Quiz:

tinyurl.com/cedmajorquiz Talk to a CED Advisor

cedadvising@berkeley.edu

colophon

the team behind the guidebook Akshata Atre Architecture ‘21 Editor

Amanda Calindas Architecture ‘22 Designer

With Special Thanks To: Vol. 1 Development Team: Rachel Durney, Kristine Jiao, Adeline Leung, Edgardo Vazquez Professors Eric Cesal, C Grieg Crysler, and Sai Balakrishnan David Eifler

Phi Diep

Landscape Architecture ‘21 Designer

Aleksandra Lapshina Architecture ‘21 Content Developer

Kristian Dawson & Omar Ramirez All the students who shared their students for this project And our amazing Admissions Ambassadors Team. We miss seeing you all in-person!

Maral Manlai

Architecture ‘21 Content Developer

Jonathan Rappa Architecture ‘22 Content Developer

Trilian Truong

SED ‘22 Content Developer

The CED Guidebook

Articles inside

The CED Guidebook