Five Story Mixed Use Housing

1717 University Avenue, Berkeley

This 29 Unit Mixed-Use housing project features a variety of communal spaces from a rear garden, a second story communal room and barbeque area and a roof garden including a solar canopy and an urban farm with built in seating. The project includes an integrated perforated art facade which complies with Berkeley’s requirement for art. The facade bays are designed to harmonize with the perforated pattern which forms a canopy for the open commercial space at the ground floor. the buidling steps down in the back in response to a uniquely stringent solar setback. The setbacks allowed for a series of balconies in the rear which gave the small apartments greater flexibility and freedom.
The project was subsequently modified by ASSEMBLY in response to a co-living model by another development partner. This model created 12 much larger shared units for the building and the project is still ongoing with the new entitlement secured. ASSEMBLY remains as the design architect for the project.