University Hall is on Oxford Street in Downtown Berkeley.
University Hall as viewed from the southeast, at the corner of Addison Street and Oxford Street in Downtown Berkeley.
The Berkeley Innovation Zone will redevelop a 1.86-acre campus-owned site in downtown Berkeley to create a public-facing node for life sciences, materials science, and climate research. Immediately west of the Crescent Lawn, the zone will have two main buildings separated by a courtyard space. Construction of the south building and courtyard space will begin first, followed by the north building.
Construction Update:
March 17, 2025Demolition of the University Hall building structure has been actively underway since early March. Crews are making steady progress, and demolition activities are proceeding as planned and on schedule. Over the next few weeks, the majority of the tower will be taken down. Following the tower demolition, crews will continue clearing the site and removing remaining materials. Site clearance operations will continue through June 2025. Throughout the demolition process, dust control measures remain in place, along with periodic traffic controls and detours to ensure safety for pedestrians and vehicles in the area. |
Project Background
University Hall has extensive deferred maintenance, inefficient spaces not sized or configured to meet present program requirements, and aged building systems that have exceeded their intended lifespans. It is also one of the largest campus buildings needing seismic improvement. Analysis has shown that replacing University Hall is more practical than retrofitting the existing building. All of the programs in University Hall have relocated over the past year, and the building is now vacant and ready for demolition.
The demolition of University Hall began with interior abatement work and window removal in August 2024. Demolition of the exterior building structure began in March 2025. The entire demolition process is expected to take approximately ten months and be completed in the summer of 2025.
Removing University Hall and other university-owned structures on the 1.86-acre site in downtown Berkeley will pave the way for the Berkeley Innovation Zone, a public-facing hub for life sciences, materials science, and climate research. Immediately west of the Crescent Lawn, the zone will have two main buildings separated by a courtyard space. Construction of the south building and courtyard space will begin first, followed by the north building.