South Hall opened in 1873 and is the only remaining building today from the original UC Berkeley campus. The building was an urgent priority for repair to preserve the architectural heritage of the campus and avoid future costly repairs due to avoidable weather damage.
The exterior of South Hall was repaired as a critical component of the campus Deferred Maintenance program. Refurbishments included replacing damaged roof shingles and flashing, restoration of the wood cornices, resealing and cleaning of exterior masonry and granite, and resealing the third-floor dormers and windows. Repairs were also be made to the east portico and stairs.
Construction began in late-July 2020 and was completed in December 2020.