Morris Adjmi Architects

Anchor House is a state-of-the-art residential building located at the prime gateway location across the street from the western edge of UC Berkeley's campus. The mixed-use project reimagines the student residential experience by providing a transformational design tailored to the unique needs of transfer students, many of whom come from low-income backgrounds and are often first-generation college students.

MA designed the dormitory as a transition between traditional university-style neoclassical architecture and Berkeley’s eclectic downtown fabric. Charcoal-hued hand-laid Interstate Brick is found on the building’s base, beginning at ground level and continuing toward internal courtyard areas. Floors four through twelve feature a lighter, warm gray brick, alongside a metal grid expression. Floors thirteen and fourteen have a dark, metal two-story single bay expression.

Within, the dormitory program consists of studio, two-, and four-bedroom apartments. Each fully furnished unit features private, single bedrooms and built-in desks in front of the 7'x7' windows to access natural light and air. The apartments also include full kitchens with all major appliances, including a washer and dryer.

Designed as a hub of connection and belonging for transfer students, Anchor House offers residents multiple community spaces and resources. The building has two event spaces with accompanying catering kitchens, a culinary classroom for Rausser College of Natural Resources to promote healthy and sustainable cooking, and a "maker space" run by the Berkeley Art Studio, with classes for students and the community. An expansive indoor/outdoor fitness center is also be available to residents, along with a rooftop vegetable garden, secure bicycle storage, a bike maintenance shop, and lounges, lockers, and activity spaces for residents and other Berkeley students who commute to school.