David Blackwell Hall

David Blackwell Hall combines urban planning principles, innovative sustainable systems, and campus design sensibilities to create a unique new addition to both the University of California, Berkeley campus and the South Berkeley community. The building provides first-year undergraduate housing organized into a series of pods made up of double occupancy rooms and gender-inclusive bathrooms. Student amenities including an academic success center, fitness center, and entry lounge along with 7,000 square feet of ground floor retail activate Dana and Durant Streets. The building also provides a new home for Stiles Hall, a mission-driven community service organization that has engaged UC Berkeley students for over 125 years.

The project features a variety of sustainable features and systems focused on reducing energy consumption. Air conditioning is provided only in shared, communal spaces; residential units are served by low velocity, tempered ventilation, which is augmented by operable windows and supplemented by individually controlled electric radiant modules over the windows. Responsive lighting throughout adjusts in brightness according to the amount of natural light infiltrating the building at different points in the day. Blackwell Hall consumes 44 percent less energy than required by the stringent local code, achieving an energy use intensity of 36 kBtu/square foot. It meets the ambitious energy targets set by the American Institute of Architects’ 2030 Challenge, performing 70 percent better than similar buildings in the same climate.

University University of California, Berkeley

Location Berkeley, CA

Building Size 184,000 SF, 776 beds Sustainability

Awards

Gold Nugget Merit Awards, Best Student or Faculty Housing Award

Student Housing Business Innovator Awards, Best Use of Sustainable & Green Development Award