The politics of modern design within a historic downtown district & the dialog between past  &  present.

There are Always Two Sides to Every Story

The Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA) and the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) have reacted strongly to the fact that the school district bypassed any sort of public review process and have been concerned about maintaining a historical appearance.  BAHA did not want a modern building with a different style to be introduced into the area.  Since this is a school project, however, the school district does not have to answer directly to the city or local groups and agencies…they answer to the state.  Additionally, the school district was also able to receive an exemption from the complying with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  As aspects of the design changed and the location was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, BAHA unsuccessfully sought to force the school to comply with CEQA. 

Some of the primary design issues BAHA and LPC were opposed to include:  the chopped up nature of the Allston façade massing, the "odd" angle of the library, blank windowless walls on Allston, metal cladding, the lack of "enlivening ornamentation," and the blocked passage through Kittredge.  Some of the issues raised by these historical groups are directly influenced by the current divergence from the school's 1937 plan and subsequent buildings... 

  Resources:

September 8, 1998 memo from John English of BAHA to the Landmarks Preservation Commission stating issues with the design:

September 28, 1998 letter from BAHA to the Berkeley Unified School District asking for accountability under the California Environmental Quality Act:

December 1, 1998 letter from Carrie Olson of BAHA to Roger Moore itemizes possible issues that could force the opening up of the project to further public process:

December 21, 1998 letter from the Preservation Action Committee to BAHA summerizing design issues still unaddressed by the school district:

Express article, August 20, 1999, on preservationist efforts to stop the project from proceeding with current design:

Article stating the discontent of BAHA with the current design:

Berkeley Daily Planet article, February 21, 2001, on the removal of trees and disappointment by community members in the lack of public involvement on the project