
Berkeley Design Advocates, a volunteer group of architects and urban planners, showcase the best contemporary design in Berkeley — as well as the best restoration of the city’s historical buildings — with their bi-annual awards.
For 2015, the group has selected the buildings and projects they consider contribute to Berkeley both aesthetically and in terms of civic engagement.
This year the awards fall into three categories: Restoration and Re-use, New Construction/Civic Institutions, and Food and Drink. A total of eleven buildings were recognized, and DBA also gave out a special award for Successful Urban Intervention.
The award winners are listed below, with caption excerpts from the Berkeley Design Advocates award write-ups. Read full details, including the names of the developers and architects, in the Berkeley Design Advocates awards brochure.
Restoration and Re-use: Good Shepherd Church
Restoration and Re-use: Lifelong West Berkeley Health Center
Restoration and Re-use: Berkeley Kitchens
Restoration and Re-use: UC Berkeley Campanile Esplanade
New Construction/Civic Institutions: South Branch Library
New Construction/Civic Institutions: West Berkeley Library
New Construction/Civic Institutions: Dwight Way Child Development Center
Food and Drink: Eureka!
Food and Drink: Mission: Heirloom Garden Café
Food and Drink: Westbrae Biergarten
Food and Drink: Sierra Nevada Torpedo Room
Special Award for Successful Urban Intervention: Gilman Development
Writing in the awards brochure, DBA President Anthony Bruzzone said: “This year’s projects continue the tradition of great design, and at a time when the economy is booming. The awardees range widely across the city, from the University into West Berkeley, which is rapidly becoming a hotbed of contemporary and innovative design.”
Bruzzone also expressed concern about the impacts of the increasingly high cost of housing in the city. “We continue to explore concepts to reduce delivery cost while at the same time acknowledging that increasing supply is critical,” he wrote.
The DBA has been working the past few years on improving specific areas of Berkeley in need or revitalization, in particular Telegraph Avenue. Read more about those efforts.
See the full Berkeley Design Advocates awards brochure.
Related:
Nine Berkeley buildings win design excellence awards (4.3.14)
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