Goldman School of Public Policy

The Goldman School of Public Policy is located in a historically significant building designed in 1893 by Ernest Coxhead as a fraternity house. This area of the Berkeley campus is a transitional zone linking the university’s historic core to a residential neighborhood, so designing in context of this significant historic resource was a significant challenge. What was once a yard and volleyball court on the corner had become a parking lot and the neighborhood was skeptical of both a new building or addition and very opposed to the university encroaching further into the residential area. The split-level site with the sidewalk at a lower level and the existing building a floor level above was also a challenge in ADA terms.

The project was initially to seismically upgrade and restore the historic structure. Three weeks into the rehabilitation construction the university received a $10 million gift to expand the project. Work was stopped to re-program the existing building and design a new building. 

The new building is designed as a retaining wall, with an entrance at street level, an elevator to the courtyard level. An exterior ramp on the uphill side provides access to the courtyard and the second level of the new building, continuing to the main level of the existing fraternity house, which is four feet higher.

The classrooms are stacked and hidden within the massing of the building to achieve a scale and form compatible with the larger houses in the neighborhood. The design creates places for “spontaneous” interactions between students and faculty to encourage dialogue inside and outside the classroom. In addition , the second means of egress was designed to exit third floor faculty offices down to the street level, forcing faculty to use the main central stair to go back and forth between the two buildings, and not have a rear escape route to avoid students. What had been a single building became mini-campus around a courtyard that is a gathering space and anchor for the school.

As project principal and project manager with Architectural Resources Group, Aaron led the design and managed the consultant team and facilitated the approval and community outreach processes. He also facilitated the programming and design process with the school, donor and other campus stakeholders. 

Architect of Record:

Architectural Resources Group

Photo credits: 

David Wakely Photography