2023 VCA Annual Report - Capital Strategies

Capital Strategies provides a full suite of planning, design, real estate, construction, and development services to UC Berkeley. The department includes real estate professionals, architects, planners, engineers, construction managers, and administrative specialists, working together to serve the campus community. Their FY22 Operating Results & FY23 Budget can be found here.

Check out the Capital Strategies website for departmental details and more about their projects.

Capital Strategies is under the leadership of John Arvin, Associate Vice Chancellor, and Wendy Hillis, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Campus Architect. 

FY22

In the 2021-22 academic year, the following represent the major accomplishments for Capital Strategies.

  1. Significant progress was made in advancing the goal to double student housing capacity. In January 2022, UC Berkeley opened the Intersection Apartments in Emeryville with 105 apartments for graduate students. And, in February 2022, construction began on Anchor House, a transformative housing project that will set a new standard for student residential living. The building will house more than 770 students and will require no public funds to construct or operate.
  2. The city and campus recently resolved a host of outstanding issues. There is now a profoundly important agreement that unites the campus and city in efforts to address the housing crisis impacting students and city residents alike. This agreement also smoothed the way for Regental approval of a long-range development plan, settled divisive litigation, and opens the door to a new era of collaboration with city government colleagues and neighbors that will benefit all.
  3. The Chancellor approved the new Campus Master Plan that establishes a renewed long-term vision for the physical development of the Berkeley campus. The Campus Master Plan is a collection of proposals for big ideas and individual projects, all in support of UC Berkeley's recently updated strategic goals. These goals encompass academic life; housing and campus life; landscape and open space; athletics and recreation; mobility and accessibility; seismic needs; historic resources; signage and wayfinding; sustainability and resilience; fire mitigation; and infrastructure.
  4. The Moffitt Library was closed for an eight-month seismic strengthening project that wrapped 86 columns on levels one through five with structural carbon fiber reinforcing wrap. The columns were then encased in plaster, which is intended to match the appearance of existing columns. The project successfully concluded in time for the library to reopen for the start of the new academic year.

FY23

In FY23, Capital Strategies plans to complete the following:

  1. To begin construction to build housing for more than 1,110 students at People’s Park, and to begin construction this year on the Albany Village project, which will house 761 graduate students and triple the existing supply of university-owned housing for single graduate students. Together, these projects will achieve about 20% of the goal to double our student housing capacity.

  2.  Construction will also begin on the Gateway, the new home of the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society. The Gateway will be a collaborative space where faculty, students, researchers, and staff work together to create accessible and equitable educational opportunities and catalyze groundbreaking research to meet society’s greatest challenges.

  3. Seek approval of several plans to include: Heathcock Hall, a new home for the College of Chemistry, the Bechtel Engineering Student Center renovation and expansion, and the Academic Replacement Building that will provide sufficient space to replace the general assignment classrooms in Evans Hall. This also allows for the relocation of some academic programs currently housed in that building.
  4. Design work will begin on the new Cal Athletics Practice Facility that will address critical program needs for Intercollegiate Athletics, including space for basketball practice, gymnastics, and strength and conditioning facilities. The project would be funded by philanthropy and has been envisioned as an addition to Haas Pavilion.
Image of Anchor House rendering

Rendering of the new Anchor House

Image of the architectural rendering of the new Albany Village Project

Rendering of the new Albany Village Project

Image of architectural rendering of the new Gateway Building on campus

Rendering of the new Gateway Building

FY22 Operating Results & FY23 Budget

Capital Strategies