Morris Adjmi Architects

Anchor House is a transformative dormitory project that sets a new standard for student residential living. Located just one block from UC Berkeley's campus and three blocks from the Berkeley BART station, the mixed-use dormitory is designed and programmed to help the University's transfer students thrive academically, socially, and culturally.

Anchor House is a mixed-use dormitory located at a prominent gateway site directly across from the western edge of UC Berkeley’s campus. Designed specifically to support transfer students—many of whom are first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds—the building reimagines student housing as a holistic support system that fosters academic success, health and wellness, a sense of belonging, and community connection.

Central to this concept is a robust suite of shared spaces and programs that respond to the transitional nature of the transfer student experience. An expansive central courtyard, a state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor fitness center, resident lounges, and multi-purpose activity spaces create opportunities for wellness, rest, and connection throughout the day. Complementing these communal amenities are apartment-style dorm units that provide everything students need to live independently, including full kitchens and in-unit washers and dryers.

Together, these public and private spaces position Anchor House as more than a residence hall—offering a supportive, resource-rich environment that addresses the academic, social, and practical needs of transfer students as they integrate into campus life.

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The dormitory's design serves 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.

"This project was about so much more than adding a contextual building to Berkeley's evolving skyline. Our ambition for Anchor House was to create a place of community and belonging. A place where students would feel safe, inspired, and supported." Morris Adjmi

Within, the residential 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.

Anchor House has been designed to meet LEED Gold certification requirements, as well as Scope 1 & 2 Carbon Neutrality by 2025 and Scope 3 by 2050. Sustainable design features include sun shading; green roofs & courtyard (including a heat island); climate-appropriate landscaping; a high-performance building façade; an all-electric building + Green Power purchase; rooftop solar panels; high efficiency LED lighting; long-term bicycle storage and electric vehicle charging.

Construction