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Plan InitiativesPlan Principles

InitiativesNatural AreasGladesThe Classical CorePlaces of InteractionCampus GreensEdges and GatewaysConclusion

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master plan for path of travel access improve-ments and corrections along the major pedestri-an routes as identified in the New Century Plan(NCP). Nearly all of the Landscape Master Plan(LMP) initiative areas intersect with these paths.Observatory Hill, Sproul Plaza and the MiningCircle present especially challenging accessissues that were deferred in the Central CampusAccess Study for resolution in the implementationof the LMP initiatives.

It is important to acknowledge a set of commonunderlying principles for the vision of the twen-ty-nine initiative areas. Actions to renew or pre-serve the campus landscape must always respectand promote principles of sustainability, historicpreservation, environmental quality and, whenworking within the designated Natural Areas,ecological management.

The LMP presents detail anddirection to guide the development of the cam-pus landscape and open space initiatives. Theportfolio of twenty-nine projects is deliberatelybroad and ambitious, addressing all campus land-scape types. Located throughout the centralcampus, the sites have been selected to restore,retain and preserve the overall integrity of thecampus open space. In some cases the existingphysical condition of the spaces is either deteri-orated or a remnant of an earlier purpose thatno longer suits current uses. These sites will bedesigned to reshape their character and addressthe needs of the campus in the 21st century.Parameters used to determine the initiative sitesinclude: historical importance; the need to pre-serve a valuable resource; areas of high use anda desire to create places of interaction for thecampus community.

s e c t i o n 4 27

The preceding Policy Framework sectiondescribed the goals and policies that support thepreservation, renewal and improved operation ofcampus open space. The Plan Initiatives in thissection apply the goals and policies to physicalimprovements in specific areas of campus.Although the goals and policies apply evenlyacross the campus, the most beneficial use oflimited resources will come from focused invest-ments. The campus is a large, complex environ-ment with excellent natural features and won-derful spatial variety. While topography and land-scape are the primary form givers of the campus,buildings play a key role in framing and impartingcharacter to campus open space. It is crucialthat new building and open space improvementsare planned jointly and with the same degree ofquality, to ensure each new investment elevatesthe quality of campus life.

The gradual conversion of the campus from previous widespread vehicu-lar access to a predominantly pedestrian coreimplies a greater need to provide related bene-fits and a clear path of travel for those with dis-abilities. One of the functions of the landscape isto act as a conveyance. However, as the hillsidecampus becomes increasingly pedestrian and uni-versal standards for access are applied through-out the campus,more improvements are needed.UC Berkeley has a long history of providingaccommodations for the disabled community.The campus is committed to providing universalaccess as broadly as funding and site conditionspermit. One of the fundamental considerationsfor any renewal project will be to improve accessfor those with disabilities. The campus has com-pleted a barrier survey in 2002, and prepared a

InitiativesPlan Principles


The initiatives are organized in six groups, gener-ally aligning with the campus landscape systemsintroduced in Section 2. Each initiative is repre-sented with a description and the opportunitiesfor renovation or recommendations for futuredevelopment. Given the limits imposed by bothresources and logistics, the campus has selected10 priority initiatives (in italics below) thatshould be addressed first. The priority initiativeswere chosen based on their campus significanceand the substantial improvement they wouldprovide to the campus community. Althoughany initiative may be realized at any time, theLandscape Master Plan emphasizes the priorityinitiatives (noted below) to focus a program ofinvestment on the renewal of these key sites.

Natural AreasSouth Fork Renewal Eucalyptus Grove Observatory HillFounders' Rock

GladesWest Oval GladeCampanile Glade Faculty GladeWheeler GladeGrinnell Glade Edwards Glade

The Classical CoreCampanile EnvironsMining CircleGilman-LeConte Way West Circle Campanile WaySather Road

Places of InteractionSproul PlazaLower Sproul PlazaWheeler-Dwinelle Plaza College Plaza Arts QuadUniversity Walk Tolman Plaza Wellman Courtyard

Campus GreensWest Hearst Field

Edges and GatewaysHearst Frontage Oxford-Fulton Frontage Bancroft FrontageGayley Road

Natural Areas The Natural Area initia-tives represent those special places where theearly character of the campus is still expressed.These sites are in need of renewal or haveworthwhile opportunities not yet realized. Theyinclude a range of venerable campus icons, eachunder pressure from the development and use ofthe campus, including Strawberry Creek,Observatory Hill, Founders' Rock and theunique and majestic Eucalyptus Grove showingsignificant signs of decline. Observatory Hill is apriority initiative that will create significant, pos-itive benefits for the campus landscape andusers. The “natural areas” category in this planshould not to be confused with the three formal-ly designated Campus Natural Areas: Wickson,Goodspeed and Grinnell, which are all locatedalong and in association with Strawberry Creek.

Natural areas

Glades

Classical Core

Places of interaction

Greens

Edges and gateways

s e c t i o n 4 29

1 South Fork Renewal Pedestrian pathways affordthe greatest continuous visi-bility of the StrawberryCreek south fork, fromSather Gate to the intersec-tion with Campanile Way.The focus of this initiativearea is a 1,200 linear footstretch of the creek, signifi-cantly altered in the 1960s,and partially urbanized with sections of concretechannel and stone walls. Within this area arefour bridges, including a picturesque woodenbridge designed by Thomas Church in 1968 tosurround a bay laurel tree growing on the creekbank. This replaced earlier bridges dating backto the 19th century that once connected thecampus to Dana Street and Allston Way.

InitiativeEnhance this significant section of the creek bymaximizing its natural riparian attributes. Thisopen, lower creek section is seen from heavily-used pedestrian paths and four bridges. The ini-tiative strives to correct unstable creek embank-ments, deteriorated bridges, hydrological andfishery concerns and increase the use of nativevegetation. The renovation proposes to:

Enhance deficient planting with a broad selection of native trees and shrubs

Replace the lawn slope with a naturalized sitting area adjacent to the creek

Open views to the creek from the bridges

Restore the four bridges and correct code deficiencies

Replace check dams with boulder cascades

and natural-appearing concrete walls

Provide a disabled pathway to the edge of the channel within the redwood grove

This initiative increases the opportunity forenjoying a quiet refuge from higher use areas,stabilizes and improves the appearance of creekbanks, improves the fish habitat and upgrades thebridge. Strawberry Creek is a unique naturalresource enjoyed by the entire campus commu-nity. It requires periodic investment to manageand strengthen its dynamic natural character andqualities within the campus setting.

2 Eucalyptus Grove The Eucalyptus Grove wasplanted in 1877 as a fast-growing windbreak for theCinder Track running oval,which was constructed to itseast. The Eucalyptus Grovehas four levels of historicaland biological importance. Itis the only largely intactplanned landscape featurefrom the early days of the University that hassurvived in close to original condition on thecentral campus. As such, it provides a rare livinglink to the era of those who worked to plan andplant the campus when the University was new.Second, the grove is believed to be the talleststand of hardwood trees in North America withindividual specimens rising over 200 feet, attain-ing national significance. Third, the grove hasaccrued cultural and historical value, serving as agathering place for campus activities and a quietrespite for generations. Finally, the grove hasbeen a prominent visual feature of the campussince the 1880s. Viewed from the west, itscreens larger buildings from view from down-

Natural area initiatives

(Light green identifies natural areas)


town Berkeley and makes an important contri-bution to the park-like character of the campus.

Although the life expectancy of Eucalyptus glob-ulus growing in these conditions is not known,the genus is generally considered to be fastgrowing and relatively short-lived (under 200years). The current grove consists of 80 treeson a one-acre site. Advancing age, disease, dep-osition of soil from floods, fills and soil com-paction have contributed to root rot and accel-erated the much regretted, but anticipated widespread decline of the grove. The perimeter treesgenerally protect the center trees, but as individ-ual trees at the edge fail and are removed, theweak trees at the center are placed at risk. Anindividual tree assessment begun in 2002 willprovide an initial report on the grove condition.

InitiativeThe goal of the initiative is to retain the naturaland historic character of the site. The tall treegrove acts as an important spatial element oncampus, screens campus buildings and forms atree canopy behind the picturesque CrescentGlade entrance. As a longstanding sacred spotlocated at the confluence of the two forks ofStrawberry Creek, it must retain its natural char-acter as a contained and accessible open space atthe edge of the creek. The renewal proposes to:

Assess the condition of the eucalyptus stand in a management report prepared bycertified arborists and horticulturists with expertise in management of eucalyptus

Enact an annual program of inspection and actions to sustain/restore the grove in a condition that ensures the safe use of the space and adjoining building; an Advisory Committee should be created to provide

oversight to the program

Reconstruct the confluence area at the base of the north fork of Strawberry Creekwith low boulder cascades

The Eucalyptus Grove is a unique open space onthe Berkeley campus and in North America.The power and majesty of the reflected light,scale and spacing of these towering pale-trunkedtrees cannot be replicated by another species.The grove also has an important role on campusfor its historical contributions and in providingan area of respite for the University. This initia-tive is designed to sustain the grove in its historicform as long as it is safe to do so. The long-termuse of the space should remain the same so thatas trees are removed, a horticulturally soundprogram for replanting will be put into practice.

3 Observatory Hill Observatory Hill slopes tothe west and south from theNorth Gate, descending toHaviland Hall on the westand Memorial Glade on thesouth. In the 19th centurythe hill became the site ofthe Students' Observatory, acomplex of small woodenbuildings near the top, andthe Conservatory, a large,Victorian-style green-house at the base. Observatory Hill is culturallyand historically important as the last remainingportion of the rustic landscape on the centralcampus. With its heavily wooded character, ithas served as an open space icon and a place ofquiet refuge for the campus community. The hillis host to numerous pedestrian paths, includingthe primary north-south route through campus.

s e c t i o n 4 31

Other paths form a network of informal trailsleading to hillside benches secreted under theoaks. Prominent tree species on the hill includethe historical live oaks, along with introduceddeodar cedars and dawn redwoods. The southand west side of the hill are possible sites fortwo campus buildings, per the New Century Plan.

Priority InitiativeObservatory Hill is a vital representative of thehistoric rustic character and diversity of thecampus landscape. This initiative endeavors toretain that character in proposing to:

Install a xeriscaped demonstration garden consistent with the rustic character of the hill; include benches and a disabled access pathway leading from North Gate to Memorial Glade

Remove non-native plants on the west andsouth facing slopes to restore the character of the live oak woodland

Maintain the introductory character of thecampus park at North Gate entrance by retaining the green forecourt and hilltop oflawn backed by mixed evergreen/deciduoustrees and grasses

Within the landscape, commemorate the historic uses of the hill

Observatory Hill is a significant natural campuslandmark and creates a first impression to visi-tors at a principal campus gateway. This initiativepreserves the diversity of open space types pres-ent on the central campus by retaining the rusticcharacter, and its historic connections to theoriginal landscape. The initiative provides a crit-ically needed passive disabled access route alonga primary pathway and demonstrates the bene-

fits of drought tolerant landscapes. The prospectof new buildings at the edge of this site offers anopportunity to jointly design a beneficial project.

4 Founders' RockFounders' Rock is a naturalrock outcropping that oncestood prominently on anopen slope at the base of theBerkeley Hills. The rock hasseminal cultural, historic, andtraditional value to theUniversity. Providing apanoramic view to the westover San Francisco Bay, thesite was used in 1860 to dedicate the land toeducational use by the College of California, theUniversity's predecessor institution. Later gen-erations of students and University dignitariesfollowed a tradition of gathering at the rock onceremonial occasions. Founders' Rock hadgained such significance in University lore thatwhen the UCLA campus was established, a largeboulder was imported to its Westwood site pro-viding a “Founders' Rock” for that campus.Although the original panoramic view to thewest is now blocked by Cory Hall, the siteremains largely in its natural state. Shrubbery,live oaks and a small stand of eucalyptus nearbyrecall the 19th century character of the campus.

Today the site is located on the busy corner ofHearst Avenue and Gayley Road, with an adja-cent path providing access to the northeast cor-ner of the campus. A commemorative plaqueremains attached to the rock. Many of the euca-lyptus trees growing on the site were recentlyremoved to make way for utility connectionssupporting the Hearst Memorial Mining Building.

This example of a California live oak woodland rep-

resenting the rustic character of the original campus

site, remains desirable on the slopes of Observatory

Hill and Founders’ Rock.


InitiativeThis initiative will enhance the historic qualitiesof the site, while providing a quiet overlook toenjoy the view from the campus. Pedestrianaccess into campus should be redirected to theStanley Hall and Cory Hall routes that also pro-vide access to the disabled community. The ini-tiative includes:

Remove and replace ornamental plants on the site with appropriate native plants

Provide a flagstone pathway and low stone wall along the northeastern site edge with interpretative signs at the viewpoint

Remove the existing asphalt path to the campus and stabilize the hillside with low-growing native plants

Widen the sidewalk at the intersection andcoordinate with the City of Berkeley to remove the vehicular right turn lane

These important changes will enhance the rusticlandscape character of this site, by reshaping thespace and enriching site materials to preserve itsnatural and historic resources. Addressingpedestrian and ADA circulation will provide forsafer use of the site and distribute campus accessto universally accessible campus gateways.

Glades The glades of the Berkeley cam-pus are significant elements of the open spacesystem. The glades include those of the CentralGlade axis and the meadow-like spaces relatedto Strawberry Creek. First envisioned byFrederick Law Olmsted in his Plan of 1866, thechain of glades along the central east-west cam-pus axis - the Central Glade - parallelsCampanile Way and aligns with the Golden Gate.

The concept of this open space mall in the cen-ter of campus became the primary organizingelement of the Phoebe Hearst Plan for theBerkeley campus. The subsequent John GalenHoward Plan of 1908 strengthened the axialspace as a place "suited for the construction of agreat monumental group of buildings."

Olmsted and Howard's vision for the gladesremained intact for a good part of the 20th cen-tury, but campus expansion resulted in the devel-opment of some buildings within the CentralGlade. The campus is in the process of reinsti-tuting the continuity of the Central Glade, aswell as repairing creek-related glades to theirformer prominence. As such, the West Oval, theMining Circle and Faculty Glade are all priorityinitiatives within the glades category. Each rep-resents a major open space element that,through its renewal, will have a significant posi-tive influence on the perception and enjoymentof the campus landscape.

5 West Oval Glade The West Oval Glade, bisect-ed by the North Fork ofStrawberry Creek and itsdense riparian cover, is a vitallink within the chain of thecampus historic centralglades.Although planned withaxial connections betweenthe Valley Life SciencesBuilding and Wellman Hall,this glade differs from the more formal plantedand ornamented terraces to the east. It is signif-icant because it is the first glade encounteredfrom the west wholly within the central campus.The long view up the glade from the West Circle

Glade initiatives

(Light green identifies campus glades)

s e c t i o n 4 33

or down the glade from the Wickson Bridge areashow its picturesque qualities. The sloped lawnis continuously framed by evergreen and decidu-ous trees as they follow the creek channel.

Priority Initiative The West Oval Glade is a grand space that iscurrently hidden by overgrown riparian vegeta-tion. A renovation would open and restore theexpansive space by connecting the north-southaxial relationship of Wellman Hall and Valley LifeSciences Building and creating new creek habitatopportunities. The renovation proposes to:

Regrade to open the stream channel and selectively replant to create a backbone of native riparian plants

Reposition Wickson pedestrian Bridge towards a north/south alignment and createan adjacent accessible creekside path

Create a small fish habitat pond with the use of boulder cascades

The reconfiguration of this framed meadowspace and its location along the North Fork ofStrawberry Creek, provide opportunities forpassive recreation and aquatic habitat develop-ment while still maintaining the historic charac-ter as part of the campus' Central Glade.

6 Campanile Glade "Campanile Glade", a newcampus open space, ispresently a bowl shaped lawnon axis with Sather Tower.The area was originally anopen, grassy swale used togrow hay for the campusdraft animals. This use gave

way to the Botanical Gardens that extendedwest to the campus Conservatory. In the early20th century, the space was a part of the Beaux-Arts axis descending through the campus fromthe Mining Circle. The removal of temporarybuildings installed in the glade after WWIIallowed for the creation of the adjacentMemorial Glade in the 1990s. The CampanileGlade area was at that time planned as a buildingsite and not improved. There are a few remnantplantings, including a sequoia and a copse ofmelaleuca trees that were part of the originalcampus Botanical Garden.

Initiative A New Century Plan initiative directs the eventu-al replacement of Evans Hall with a pair of small-er pavilion buildings, restoring the view of theGolden Gate from the Mining Circle. The devel-opment of Campanile Glade could precede theremoval of Evans Hall, but if the projects arecoupled, the potential result is far more signifi-cant. The landscape initiative concept is to:

Create a formal oval lawn with a perimeterwalk on axis with Sather Tower, and a broadstaircase connecting the glade with the College of Engineering to the north

Plant the four corners of the oval with largeevergreen trees to frame the views and anchor the buildings

Selectively limb or remove trees down slope to open the view to the Golden Gate

Create pedestrian paths and stairs to the Mining Circle and Campanile Esplanade

Relocate University Drive south of Campanile Glade to extend the curvilinearalignment up to the Mining Circle

The West Oval Glade initiative reshapes the North

Fork of Strawberry Creek, establishes streamside

access and provides new riparian planting.

The Campanile Glade initiative creates a raised for-

mal promenade connecting pedestrians on both the

north-south and east-west axes.


The completion of Campanile Glade will restoreanother link to the Central Glade in fulfillment ofone of the campus’ earliest core organizing con-cepts. This investment elevates the quality of thespace, creates a transition between the classicaland picturesque landscape and connects sur-rounding features together.

7 Faculty Glade Faculty Glade is a two-acreslope of lawn and shallow val-ley dotted with live oaks andbracketed on three sides byStephens Hall, the FacultyClub, and Morrison Hall onthe hilltop to the south. TheSouth Fork of StrawberryCreek, with its canopy of red-woods and bay laurels, formsthe north boundary. Frequently cited as a mostfavorite space on campus, the glade is an inti-mate, picturesque enclave crossed by busy path-ways with a sunny center and shaded perimeter.Called "Co-ed Canyon" in the 19th century,Faculty Glade originally sat at the edge of cam-pus. Early in the 20th century, Faculty Gladeacquired several character-defining features: theFaculty Club, the Class of 1910 and 1923Bridges, the Stephens Hall student union, flag-stone pathways and redwoods amongst thenative vegetation along Strawberry Creek. Boththe Faculty Club and Stephens Hall are on theNational Register of Historic Places.

One of the most historic and venerable land-scapes on the campus, Faculty Glade has seenover a century of use for student activities andUniversity ceremonies. It serves as the site fornotable sculptures including A. Stirling Calder's

"The Last Dryad" and Richard O'Hanlon's"Voyage", and is the site of a landmark CaliforniaBuckeye tree planted in 1873. Significant fea-tures of the glade include its large live oaks, thetwo older bridges and the relationship to thecreek, a redwood grove, and spectacular views ofSather Tower. Several major oaks are succumb-ing to old age and disease, but a program ofreplacement trees has not yet been established.

Priority InitiativeThe goal of this initiative is to renew the preem-inence of the glade consistent with its historiccontext. The initiative proposes to:

Plant new flowering shrubs at the edge of the glade and new oaks in the lawn toestablish the next generation of trees

Replant creekside riparian groundcovers and overstory to screen South Drive viewand enhance the glade's sense of enclosure

Add informal seating within the glade

Restore the bridges and bring them up to current code for pedestrian safety

Re-establish the suspended lights in the trees over two of the bridges

Realign the asphalt path between the 1923 Bridge and the Faculty Club with a new flagstone walk in the original alignment

Replace the post and chain pedestrian bar-riers consistent with the picturesque char-acter of the space

Relocate the Pappy Waldorf sculpture to a new entry plaza for Memorial Stadium as atribute to the Cal athletics program

Conserve the "The Last Dryad" and "Voyage" sculptures

The elevated Campanile Glade terrace could appear

much like this campus open space.

Slopes in the West Oval could be terraced with gran-

ite slabs for sitting, sunning or special events such

as this installation in Indianapolis.

s e c t i o n 4 35

A careful, coordinated plan of long-term invest-ment is required to conserve the remaining ven-erable trees, while nurturing the next generationof replacement trees. New lights, plantings andpathway paving would enrich the character ofthe glade. Faculty Glade is a sacred space at thehistoric core of the campus. It must be renewedto reverse its gradual, but noticeable decline.

8 Wheeler Glade "Wheeler Glade" describes a new open spacethat will be created with this initiative. The sitefocuses on Strawberry Creek upstream fromSather Bridge. In the early 20th century, Sather

Gate was constructed adjacent to a concretebalustrade bridge that replaced a wooden bridgein the same location. By the mid-20th centurythe campus expanded to incorporate the blockof Telegraph south of theGate, making Sather Gate asymbolic entry.

This area retains significantvestiges of its native riparianbay laurel and live oak trees,constrained by the encroach-ment of asphalt and plantingsof redwoods adjacent toSather Gate. The redwoods

In this initiative, the landscape is reclaimed

upstream from Sather Gate and transformed into a

glade framing Strawberry Creek.


have shaded the area and the oaks, bays andother riparian vegetation are in decline. A littleused rustic amphitheater sits on the southembankment below the parking lot. The con-crete high water bypass is an unnatural intrusioninto the creek channel.

Priority InitiativeThe development of Wheeler Glade will create anew place of interaction and engage the creekvisually and physically in this popular area of thecampus. The initiative depends upon the removalof the Sproul parking lot and the small A&Ebuilding, (see the NCP) and proposes to:

Narrow and improve the quality of the paved ground plane in front of Wheeler Hall

Install a series of contoured seat walls on the north slope of the creek to create a campus place of interaction

Selectively remove trees to open views,provide light to the bottom of the creek channel, and establish a visual connection to the façade of the Old Powerhouse

Create a shallow pond at the center of theopen space that doubles as a stormwater detention area during periods of high flows

Install a new lawn on the south slope with abio-filtration system integrated into the water's edge to protect the creek

This new open space, located in the heart of thecampus's high activity area, will provide a sunny,picturesque glade in which to enjoy the creek.The initiative will reduce central campus parkingand its associated chemical stormwater runoffinto the creek. The hidden stormwater deten-tion device will help meet mandated stormwatermanagement requirements. These important

improvements to the creek quality contribute tothe campus's environmental objectives.

9 Grinnell GladeThis naturalized landscapedoes not have the greenmeadow-like character ofthe Central and Facultyglades. The natural part ofthe glade is currently an oakand redwood woodlanddirectly adjacent toStrawberry Creek. The adja-cent open area that was pre-viously a lawn for light recreation has been usedas a construction staging area for an extendedperiod of time. The woodland is composed of anumber of large specimen live oaks, an impres-sive specimen Copper Beech - the last maturetree of this species surviving on campus and thesole remaining early 20th century flagstone path-way on campus. Such pathways, created in theearly 20th century, were once found in severallocations near the creek. This well used pathwayexhibits several important and interesting monu-ments including: the Class of 1905 "Student Self-Government" marble bench; Douglas Tilden's"The Football Players", a notable work of sculp-ture and the oldest piece of outdoor art on thecampus; and the Grand Army of the Republicredwood memorial.

InitiativeThe Grinnell Glade [9] initiative adjoins theSouth Fork Renewal [1] and Campanile Way [15]initiatives. This initiative seeks to restore historicelements, establish a long-term horticulturalprogram to sustain specimen trees and supportestablishment of a diverse plant community. Key

s e c t i o n 4 37

aspects of the initiative propose to:

Re-establish the original flagstone pathway and make improvements for accessibility including bollards for vehicular control

Restore the lawn area of the glade with a water conserving, underground irrigation system as a demonstration installation

Conserve the Tilden statue and marble class bench, and include additional benches

Prepare a horticultural report to sustain theviability of the oak woodland, the specimentrees and introduce new native plantings toenrich the diversity of species

This initiative repairs and preserves the historicand natural resources of this glade while provid-ing links to adjacent initiative areas. All three ini-tiatives could be done as one project, althoughindividual initiative improvements will greatlyenhance the campus.

10 Edwards GladeLocated on the westernedge of the campus, this areawas acquired by theUniversity in the late 1920s.Providing a forecourt toEdwards Stadium, the land-scape is composed of aparking lot, and lawn and ivypanels under clusters ofevergreen trees. Two con-crete ticketing kiosks flank each end of the site.With the removal of the 2223 Fulton building(see NCP), Edwards Glade could best function asa green buffer to the downtown district and pro-vide an improved forecourt for stadium events.

InitiativeEdwards Glade is a visible site at the edge of thecentral campus, located at an important cityintersection and in front of a 22,000-seat stadi-um. Improvements will be designed in coordina-tion with the Oxford-Fulton Frontage initiative[27], and the City of Berkeley's street tree plan.The initiative proposes to:

Remove the 2223 Fulton building (an NCPinitiative) and associated parking lots

Create new entry plazas at Bancroft Way and Kittredge Street providing seating withconcrete and brick pathways

Upgrade the two ticketing kiosks and installa new campus information kiosk

Install a fiber-reinforced lawn for special event staging and parking

Plant an informal backdrop of evergreen trees consistent with the picturesque WestCrescent further north on Oxford

The 'corners' of the central campus are signifi-cant points of connection to the city and areoften where people first see and develop animpression of the campus. Development of thisinitiative would allow the campus to restore asection of perimeter open space.

The Classical Core The Classical Coreinitiatives lie at the heart of the University'sgreat expansion during the first half of the 20thcentury. These initiatives underscore the impor-tance of John Galen Howard's terraced assemblyof monumental granite buildings and associatedopen spaces. The gradual replacement of on-campus parking to perimeter locations allows the campus landscape to make a clear shift away

Classical Core initiatives

from the vehicle dominated system of roads andplaces new emphasis on pedestrian use. Noplace within the campus is more deserving ofthis conversion than the Classical Core. Theessence of these initiatives is to restore theClassical Core to its original intent as the Beaux-Arts heart of the campus. Four of the six proj-ects in this group are priority initiatives.

11 Campanile EnvironsThe Campanile (Sather Tower) sits within a for-mal plaza/garden of brick paths and lawn panelsshaded by a grid of pollarded London Planetrees. One of the campus' more beautiful dis-crete classical open spaces, it is in near original

condition with decorative brick paving and a gridof London Plane trees relocated from SanFrancisco's Panama Pacific Exposition of 1915. Aremarkable element of the esplanade is the viewfrom the base of the tower -straight out through theGolden Gate - the gatewayof the West. Other notableaspects of the site include itsrelationship adjacent to theCentral Glade. Just west ofthe Campanile is South HallRoad. This street and land-scape form an importantconnector to other historic


The popularity and significance of this area cannot

be overstated, given that Sather Tower is the icon of

the Berkeley campus. The renewal of the Campanile

Esplanade has started with the replication of four

historic benches at the center of the space, as a gift

from the class of 2002.

corridors as the foreground for both South Halland the Bancroft Library, parallel to theCampanile Esplanade. The esplanade andCampanile environs are the sites of severalnotable works of art and decorative elements,including the Mitchell Fountain and a bronze bustof Abraham Lincoln created by GutzonBourglum, sculptor of Mount Rushmore. Theinitiative area also includes Esplanade Drive, eastof the Campanile Esplanade, that serves as theentry to LeConte Hall.

Priority InitiativeThe vision for this initiative addresses issues andopportunities in each of three parallel areas:South Hall Road, the Campanile Esplanade, andEsplanade Drive. Improvements include:

South Hall Road area:

Narrow and improve the asphalt road and sidewalks to a shared promenade under a shaded allee of high branched deciduous trees. Install brick and concrete paving materials, lighting and benches. Replant theslope below the Campanile Esplanade, and clad the adjacent concrete retaining wall bench in granite.Campanile Esplanade:

Repair brick paving and edging consistent with the historic design of the space.Restore the Mitchell Fountain to operationand provide additional pedestrian lighting and planting under the red cedars.

Esplanade Drive area:

Extend the special paving at Birge Hall northto University Drive and add lighting to the entrance at LeConte Hall.

12 Mining Circle Mining Circle is one of themost visually and historicallysignificant open spaces onthe campus. The circle wasoriginally designed as theeastern terminus of theCentral Glade, the forecourtto the Hearst Mining Buildingand the first formal landscapefeature of Howard's Beaux-Arts design. Howard planned the circle as asloping shield lawn on the hillside with a circularreflecting pool at its center. As the primary viewfrom the circle was intended to be to the west,Howard planned a crescent of trees along theeastern rim of the circle. The former magnificentreflection of Sather Tower in the pool was com-promised by the LeConte Hall Annex. TheMining Circle is currently used as a constructionstaging area for the replacement of Stanley Hall.The future reconstruction of the landscape androadway provides an opportunity to create adesign for the entire open space, and restore thecircle in relation to its surrounding buildings.

Priority InitiativeRestore the Mining Circle to its historic role asboth an open space and a visual landmark. Withthe replacement of Evans Hall by two smallerpavilions (an NCP initiative), the center of the cir-cle will be restored as the terminal viewpoint forthe Central Glade and Golden Gate beyond.Even without Evans Hall being replaced, theMining Circle has its own integrity within thecluster of buildings that surround it. It willbecome a terminus to the esplanade to thesouth and be the primary landscape featureassociated with the East Gate entrance to the campus. The initiative proposes to:

s e c t i o n 4 39

The Campanile Environs initiative converts South

Hall Road and Esplanade Drive into pedestrian malls

and upgrades paving, lighting, site furnishings and

planting.

The use of high quality materials in a powerful

geometry will re-establish the Mining Circle as an

elegant space, reconstructed to meet the needs of

the campus.

Restore the central reflecting pool, lawn surround and provide additional seating

Restore the circular roadway with a specialpaving material, provide pedestrian pathways and shuttle and service connections

Light the outer perimeter of the circle withceremonial fixtures and anchor the cornersof each of the surrounding buildings with deodar cedars

The Mining Circle is a significant central historic open space feature that unifies an ensemble ofarchitecturally different building styles. Its loca-tion, close to the East Gate entrance, signifies itsimportance as a node and orientation device.

13 Gilman-LeConte WayGilman-LeConte Way is one of the significantBeaux-Arts north-south corridors of the cam-pus. Originally conceived by John Galen Howardas a forecourt to LeConte and Gilman Halls, theway has evolved into a sloped pedestrian mall onaxis with the Mining Circle and Hearst MemorialMining Building. Today, the relatively modernCampbell and Tan Halls flank the upper half ofthe way. At the low end, Le Conte Hall andGilman Hall, both designed by Howard, sit acrossfrom and form a contextual relationship witheach other. The southern terminus connects toStrawberry Creek within the GoodspeedNatural Area.


The Mining Circle of the late 1900s (above) as it

evolved from Howard’s concept sketch (right).

InitiativeThe current condition of theway is poor with minimallandscaping. The north endbetween Tan and CampbellHalls was paved and plantedwith California live and redoaks in 1996, but presentlydoubles as a constructionstaging area and temporaryroadway. New landscapeand hardscape improvements to the way may becoupled with the removal and reconstruction ofCampbell Hall or seismic renovations toLeConte Hall. Its current use as a constructionstaging area presents an opportunity to restorethe space; maximizing the historic setting whilecreating an improved space for pedestrian inter-action. The initiative proposes to:

Prioritize the use of the way for pedestriansand bicycles with a system of bollards that prohibit vehicular use

Improve the quality of the ground plane with brick, concrete and granite paving materials sensitive to the historic characterof Gilman and LeConte Halls

Retain the open axial view from the base ofthe way at South Drive to the Hearst Memorial Mining Building

Develop a focal point, such as a specimen planting or sculptural element, to anchor the southern terminus of the way at Strawberry Creek

This initiative is a joint building landscape oppor-tunity project that relies on the reconstructionof Campbell Hall as its genesis. The restorationof the historic character and resolution of con-

flicts between pedestrians and vehicles, are thelong-term benefits of this initiative.

14 West Circle West Circle is a broad park-way, serving as a landscapeand circulation connectionbetween the West Crescentand the Central Glade. Aviewer standing at the circlecan look east to the dome ofthe Cyclotron on the hillsabove the campus and westtowards the Golden Gate.The circle and these features are aligned on aprecise axis, the "University Axis" John GalenHoward intended as an organizing spine for thecampus. West Circle and Crescent were con-structed largely in their present form in 1929,based on Howard's plan. The circle is the onlypoint on campus where Strawberry Creek isbelow ground, resurfacing in the EucalyptusGrove to the southwest. The most striking ele-ment of the Circle is a monumental TasmanianBlue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus), perhaps thelargest eucalyptus remaining on campus.

InitiativeToday the West Circle is a convenient drop-offand pick-up point where pathways and serviceroads converge. It is the terminus for the short,divided entry road and is separated by grade anddistance from the city. Once this point isreached, visitors feel that they are truly withinthe embrace of the campus. It is the point oftransition from the classical Beaux-Arts entryinto the picturesque landscape of the OvalGlade. Initiative improvements propose to:

s e c t i o n 4 41

Special paving treatments as shown at the University

of Illinois help signify major campus pathways.

Create a place of significance by convertingthe asphalt paving, ramps, curbs and walks into a level plane of special paving materials

Control traffic uniformly with a ring of caststone bollards like those at North Gate

Install ceremonial pedestrian lighting at the pedestrian perimeter of the circle

Update the west entry gatehouse in orderto provide an electronic information kiosk

Replace the grass median with evergreen flowering shrubs and replant the irregular wall of shrubs next to the Eucalyptus Grovewith a tall, clipped, formal hedge

Retain the view to Sather Tower through the management of adjacent trees

These improvements will strengthen andenhance the formal Beaux-Arts west entry tothe University and simplify the flow of pedestri-ans and vehicles around the circle. Although theWest Circle may be considered the symbolicfront entrance to the campus, it is a vital andbusy location. The cumulative impact from yearsof small, well-intended, but uncoordinatedactions can be reversed by the treatment of theentire space as a coherent whole.

15 Campanile Way Campanile Way is a primary east-west corridorlinking the two campus axial termini: SatherTower on the east and the Golden Gate andPacific Ocean beyond on the west. FrederickLaw Olmsted and William Hammond Hall firstoutlined the east-west corridors in the planningfor the new University of California in the 1860sand 1870s. John Galen Howard subsequentlyformalized both Campanile Way and the much

larger University Axis runningparallel, through the centralglades to the north of DoeLibrary. Campanile Waydescends past paired campusbuildings from Sather Towerwest to California Hall, culmi-nating at the junction withStrawberry Creek. The viewwestward to the GoldenGate is obscured beyond thispoint. Pollarded London Plane trees were plant-ed in rows on either side of the pedestrian cor-ridor early in the 20th century, and most of themremain. A formal paving material was never des-ignated and the way was paved with asphalt. Adecorative gutter of brick was also laid alongpart of the route, though it is currentlydeformed or missing along much of its length.

Priority Initiative As one stands at the top of the stairs belowSather Tower and gazes out toward the GoldenGate Bridge, the unfortunate condition of thespotty planting, patched asphalt surface, missingbrick gutter and intermittent plane trees mar thegrandeur of the space. Campanile Way has mul-tiple roles as a view corridor, pedestrian corri-dor, service vehicle route and temporary parkingzone; all of which are in need of clarification. Thedaily conflicts due to pedestrian and servicevehicle use are a hazard. A proper terminus isneeded at the Valley Life Sciences Building toannounce the western terminus of this impor-tant axial corridor. Restoration of this primarypedestrian corridor proposes to:

Provide a special paving for the pathway with consideration of using of a historic brick edging


The restoration of the historical elements along this

long view corridor and its renewal as a primary

pedestrian pathway are vital to the organization of

the campus landscape, and to a successful system of

safe pedestrian circulation.

Provide a sitting area, possibly with a smallfountain or specimen planting at the SatherRoad intersection and frequent seating opportunities along the route

Infill pollarded London Plane trees and pedestrian lighting to recreate a regular sequence of elements and renew foundationplanting

Create a pedestrian forecourt at the west-ern terminus with an axial connection to Spieker Plaza to the south from the Valley Life Sciences Building

Improve the Thomas Church-designed ter-

minus at South Hall Road consistent with the original design as a broad plaza

Remove South Hall Annex and restrict vehicular use by creating an enclosed ser-vice court to replace vehicular parking on Campanile Way

The improvement of Campanile Way, particular-ly paired with the similar improvement of SatherRoad, will elevate the landscape within theClassical Core to be an appropriate setting forthe exceptional architecture. Providing for man-agement of pedestrian and vehicle conflicts is anessential goal of this initiative.

s e c t i o n 4 43

Campanile Way is refurbished for pedestrians with

the addition of historically compatible planting,

paving, lighting and seating. Service vehicles are

relocated to South Hall Annex service court.

16 Sather Road In many ways Sather Road is the 'Main Street' ofthe campus, as the primary north-south pedes-trian corridor from Sather Gate to MoffittLibrary. Designed by John Galen Howard, thecorridor is the foreground of many historicbuildings in the classical core of the campus. Itforms one of the major pedestrian intersectionson campus where it crosses Campanile Way.Sather Road was redesigned by Thomas Churchin the 1950s, when traffic and parking wereremoved from large parts of the central campus.Important elements of the classical core land-scaping include the Miller clock west of Doe

Library and the adjacent sloping lawn panel. Thelawn is informally known as "Sophomore Lawn"and, for part of the early 20th century, was for-bidden to freshmen students.

Priority InitiativeAs a remnant road within thecampus, this pedestrian wayis in need of improvementbefitting its setting. An urbandesign and historic landscapeplan that develops an appro-priate palette of materials forthe classical core context isin development, including


The crossroads of Sather Road and Campanile Way

will become an important new node for campus life

in the heart of the Classical Core.

paving materials, lighting, street furniture, adja-cent landscaping and signage. Renovation of thispedestrian corridor proposes to:

Upgrade paving, planting, wayfinding and lighting along Sather Road to announce its role as a primary pedestrian route, while differentiating it from the treatment of Campanile Way

Create a brick forecourt east of the entrance to California Hall integrated with the sophomore lawn panel

Add seating opportunities and benches along the length of the corridor

Restore the continuity of the two rows of pollarded London plane trees

Establish priority use for pedestrians with vehicular barriers and managed access

Sather Road is an important disabled access andnight safety route linking Memorial Glade, MoffittLibrary, Campanile Way,Wheeler-Dwinelle Plaza,Sather Gate and Sproul Plaza. Its improvementwill provide for its multiple uses and elevate thelandscape within the Classical Core to an appro-priate pairing with the exceptional architecture.

Places of Interaction An essentialattribute of a collegiate liberal arts education isthe opportunity to interact with students andfaculty from other fields of study in formal andinformal venues. The campus landscape can pro-mote this informal interaction by providingplaces that invite people to sit or meet outsideof the classroom, laboratory or lecture hall. Thelandscape can play a vital role in enhancing acampus community by creating spaces that tran-scend hierarchy and cross groups: spaces that

are active, well illuminated, accessible, along busypathways and intersections, with ample places tosit or lie on the grass, where individuals canstudy or groups can meet. The most successfulof these spaces are at a crossroads or entrypoint, near classroom buildings in relatively openareas where visibility is good, associated with anearby café. Prime examples include upperSproul Plaza, the Free Speech Café, the court-yard at the Haas Business School, and theDwinelle-Wheeler Plaza area. The followingeight initiatives renew six existing spaces andencourage two new areas. Sproul Plaza and theWheeler-Dwinelle Plaza are priority initiatives.

17 Sproul Plaza Sproul Plaza occupies whatwas once the northernmostblock of Telegraph Avenue.In the 1940s the Universitybegan to extend south of itstraditional border at SatherGate with the completion ofSproul Hall in 1941.Designed by LawrenceHalprin, the plaza is one ofthe most successful public outdoor spaces oncampus, and is inextricably linked with studentprotests of the 1960s, which changed the charac-ter of the University and the country. It is con-tinually vibrant with pedestrians and politicalactivism, and provides a primary place of interac-tion for the campus community.

While the plaza functions as a pedestrian corri-dor, the center of the plaza and adjacent Sproulsteps provide a stage for many campus activities.The center is end-bracketed by three rows ofpollarded London Plane trees, which are intent-

s e c t i o n 4 45

Places of interaction initiatives

(Light red identifies places of interaction)

tionally reminiscent of those on the CampanileEsplanade. Sather Gate is at the northern end ofthe plaza, with the campus edge and TelegraphAvenue to the south. The plaza is punctuated byLudwig's Fountain, a circular water feature sur-rounded by a low seat wall, and an understatedmonument to the Free Speech Movement setflush with the plaza paving.

Priority InitiativeOver 40 years, Sproul Plaza's success as a publicgathering space has also resulted in considerabledeterioration. The plaza's site furnishings, fromlight standards to tree wells, benches, newsracksand plantings are deteriorated and the pavement

under the tree canopy has uplifted. Utility exca-vations and patches have damaged the decora-tive brick paving. A comprehensive plan to refur-bish the plaza is underway, keeping the overalldesign intact but designing improvements towithstand the heavy crowds. The initiativeactions include:

Replace the asphalt paving with a concrete and brick surface that complements the central brick paving and original design

Replace any failing pollarded plane trees with a mildew resistant cultivar

Replace the tam juniper with lawn in front


Sproul Plaza is renovated with a traditional pattern of

concrete and brick paving, improved lighting, new

site furnishings, and signage. The cafe terrace is

enlarged and made universally accessible.

of Sproul Hall to provide additional sitting areas and broaden the space

Extend the café terrace to a single, accessi-ble level closer to the plaza space

Install new wood benches, consolidated news racks, bollards, handrails and grates

Install two consistent message, map, newspaper and informational structures that include interactive data connections

Relocate the vending carts from the front entrance at Telegraph to designated sites

Adjust the pedestrian lighting to improve light distribution when the trees are in leaf

Sproul Plaza is a priority initiative based on itssignificance as a major campus gateway, its his-toric cultural role in the Free Speech Movementand its high use. A renovated Sproul Plaza willsignificantly improve visitors' first impression ofthe campus and result in a more open, accessibleand dignified space. This initiative addressesissues of safety, accessibility, quality and consis-tency to recreate an entrance to the Universitybefitting of its stature and social significance.

18 Lower Sproul Plaza Lower Sproul Plaza wasdesigned by LawrenceHalprin as the centerpiecewithin a composition of fourbuildings - Zellerbach Hall,Eshleman Hall, the StudentUnion, and Chavez Center.The paving pattern andmaterials are similar toSproul Plaza, although lack-ing the pollarded London

Plane trees since the plaza has a parking garagebelow. Tree plantings in Lower Sproul consist ofolives in raised planters; those at the northernedge of the plaza date from its construction,while those at the southern edge were plantedin the 1980s to replace alders. With varied usessurrounding it and the cross circulation design,the plaza was intended to be an animated spacesimilar in character to Sproul. Due to changes inthe use within the buildings, the underused plazafunctions largely as a circulation, theater fore-court and event space.

InitiativeSimilar to Sproul Plaza, years of use in LowerSproul Plaza have led to a degraded condition.However, the largest issue to resolve in this plazais the relationship of the programmatic activitiesin the buildings, rather than the physical ameni-ties. Originally used for dining facilities and otherstudent activities, the Cesar Chavez Centerformed a hub adjacent to the plaza. Noted as aNew Century Plan initiative, the goals are to rein-vigorate the uses of the whole complex.

Reprogram the buildings and over-looking terraces with active day and evening uses

Link a new transit hub at Bancroft Way with Lower Sproul Plaza

Reconfigure or rebuild Eshleman Hall

Repair and improve the paving materials,site furnishings and plantings

Lower Sproul Plaza is an important resource forspecial occasions and can benefit greatly fromenhancements. It is important that the NewCentury Plan initiatives are coordinated with theimprovement of this plaza, in order to comple-ment the vitality found in Sproul Plaza.

s e c t i o n 4 47

The revitalization of the famous but worn Sproul

Plaza will renew materials following the original

1960s design intent and significantly enhance the

image of this busy gateway.

Formal planting and uniform, high quality surfaces

can convey stature and significance to gateway

plazas such as Sproul Plaza.

19 Wheeler - Dwinelle Plaza In the early 20th century John Galen Howard'sneoclassical buildings began to coherently framecirculation spaces in this area of the campus.Sather Gate,Wheeler Hall, and Durant Hall weredesigned to define the intersection of two pri-mary circulation spines - South Drive and SatherRoad. The formal neoclassical buildings andplantings contrast with the less formal ripariancharacter of Strawberry Creek along the south-ern edge of this zone. Wheeler-Dwinelle Plaza isthe hinge between Sproul Plaza and the majorclassroom buildings with congregations of stu-dents in large numbers throughout the day.Important historic landscape and built features

remaining in the vicinity are the replacement"Wheeler Oak", the neoclassical balustrades andthe urns of Sather Bridge.

Priority InitiativeAn appropriate design isneeded for the two plazasand Sather Road, includingpaving, lighting, furnishingsand adjacent landscaping.Initiative actions propose to:

Reduce the paved sur-face south of Wheeler Hall to provide for the


The design of Wheeler-Dwinelle Plaza will make sig-

nificant improvements and link with the initiatives

proposed for Wheeler Glade [8] and Sather Road [16]

to become a vibrant, collegial space.

glade and upgrade the remaining surfacing with the traditional brick-concrete paving

Reconfigure and replant a grid of shaded seating in the forecourt of Dwinelle Hall

Consolidate bicycle parking into a single screened parking lot south of Durant Hall

Upgrade site furnishings, wayfinding, and ceremonial/safety pedestrian lighting

Wheeler - Dwinelle Plaza is one of the most active areas of the campus. This priority initia-tive supports that activity by elevating the quali-ty of materials and reshaping the space.

20 College Plaza The edge of the original campus was adjacent to Faculty Glade, and College Avenue once extend

ed two blocks into what is now the central cam-pus. The construction of Boalt, Kroeber, andWurster Halls in the 1950s and 60s closedCollege Avenue and created College Plaza, form-ing a gateway for the southeast corner of thecampus. Designed by Thomas Church in 1964,the plaza consists of lawn panels, pathways, lowseat walls, a fountain, and a cluster of deodarcedars with a large blue gum.

InitiativeThe entry plaza is a popularmeeting place and is continu-ally occupied with people sit-ting on the fountain steps orbenches around the plaza.The lawn space provides thisplaza with many uses. This ini-tiative proposes to:

s e c t i o n 4 49

College Plaza is renovated with new paving, planting,

seating, signage and lighting. A new sitting area

makes the fountain the focus of a gracious and com-

fortable campus gateway.

Upgrade the plaza with new planting, paving,lighting and furnishings and public art to enhance this campus entrance and coordi-nate the design with Arts Quad [21] and Bancroft Frontage [28] initiatives

Reconfigure the Class of 1914 fountain, to make the fountain accessible for enjoymentof users and to conceal the pump

College Plaza, positioned on axis with CollegeAvenue at Bancroft Way, is an important gatewayfor students and visitors to the southeast cornerof the campus. These proposed improvementsare intended to bring the image of the campuspark to the street.

21 Arts Quad Like College Plaza, the Arts Quad evolved in the1950s and 60s as new academic buildings wereconstructed around the edge: Hertz, Morrison,Wurster and Kroeber Hallsand the new Hargrove MusicLibrary. Defining landscapefeatures of the quad are twodiagonal pedestrian pathwaysthat form an “X” through thespace, informal lawn panelsand mature live oaks and red-woods. Movement norththrough the plaza frames oneof the campus' most impres-


The Arts Quad is redesigned to create an active stu-

dent arts center for presentations, performances and

exhibits as well as and inviting space for casual inter-

actions and study.

sive views towards Sather Tower, over the Musicbuildings and Faculty Glade. The quad has anoutdoor dining terrace and seat walls on theWurster side, and a sculpture from the BerkeleyArt Museum collection was recently installed.

InitiativeRedesign and landscape the quad to create anactive gathering and showplace for the arts dis-ciplines around it. Provide space for displays andinformal performances. The initiative proposesto:

Create a flexible performance and display space for the adjacent academic programs in art, music and environmental design

Upgrade the primary pedestrian pathway toaccentuate the view of Sather Tower

Integrate the existing paved plaza south of Hertz Hall with the rest of the Quad space

Install a tree-planting scheme to mediate the architectural styles of context buildings

Correct access deficiencies on pathways entering the Arts Quad

This initiative reshapes an evolving open space tobetter express the academic uses of the sur-rounding buildings. Bringing student work out inthe open to be seen, heard and experienced bythe general campus population is a provocativeconcept. A previous pass-through space can betransformed into a destination to experiencestudent arts serendipitously or presented as spe-cial events. This high use space can become anenriched educational setting as well as a moreeffective place of interaction.

22 University WalkDescription and Initiative“University Walk” is intend-ed to be a new accessiblepedestrian promenade over-looking Memorial Glade andlinking the Mining Circle areawith the proposed East AsianLibrary at the base ofObservatory Hill. The goalof the design is to provide alegible pedestrian connection along the northedge of the Central Glade. Over its length, thewalk will intersect with the south edge of theCollege of Engineering, the monumental stair-case adjacent to McLaughlin Hall and create anaccessible passage along the south face ofMcLaughlin. The new promenade will provide along view across Memorial Glade to SatherTower and Doe Library, balancing the opposingpathway on the south side of the glade. It willterminate at a pedestrian plaza and grand stair-case planned between McCone Hall and the pro-posed East Asian Studies Library. Along its lengththe walk will provide staircases, ramps, terraces,plantings, benches and lighting for this newpedestrian route framing the Central Glade.

23 Tolman Plaza Tolman Plaza provides a gate-way into the northwest cor-ner of campus and is the ter-minus for the western cross-campus bike path. The broadplaza is punctuated with low,circular planters large enoughto hold substantial trees.Thespace is generous but shaded

s e c t i o n 4 51

The University Walk initiative provides a long-term

investment in a comprehensive circulation element,

as this area of campus is currently composed of mul-

tiple paths that are not ADA accessible. It also pro-

vides a balancing pedestrian route to the north edge

of the Memorial Glade with significant views over the

campus.

by Tolman Hall and is not as heavily trafficked asother similarly sized plazas on the campus. Thecomplex multi-road intersection on the adjacentHearst Avenue is difficult for pedestrians andbicyclists to cross safely.

InitiativeAlthough Tolman Plaza provides an importantgateway to the northwest corner of campus, it islightly used. The goal of this initiative is toimprove the pedestrian amenities in the plaza,make a stronger statement as a campus entryand provide a more inviting place of interaction.An NCP initiative for Tolman Hall will remove thebridge structure, greatly improving the plaza.The landscape initiative proposes to:

Upgrade the plaza with special paving, plant-ing, lighting, and an informational kiosk to enhance its identity as a major campus entrance

Design the plaza to create a unique entrance gateway for pedestrians in the northwest sector of the campus

Extend improved pedestrian lighting and provide benches and upgraded paving to form a connection with the West Circle

Coordinate with the City of Berkeley to improve intersection conditions for safety and access into the campus

Coordinate the landscape and New Century Planinitiative with the Hearst Frontage initiative [26].Together the resulting space will open a newview corridor into the campus park, improve thesense of entry into the campus and create a bet-ter place of interaction at the campus edge.

24 Wellman CourtyardThe hilltop courtyard formedby Wellman, Giannini andHilgard Halls is symmetricallyframed with classical build-ings, pollarded London Planeand Lombardy Poplar trees.John Galen Howard and JohnGregg designed the settingand courtyard in the spirit ofa formal Italian garden. Asearly as the 1930s, before the formal gardencould be fully implemented, the courtyardbecame a parking lot. The large LombardyPoplars and London Plane trees survived at theedges or amidst the parking spaces. In the 1980sa temporary trailer village was installed over theparking lot as surge space. The surrounding envi-rons of the building complex continue to evokethe Tuscan theme, with the graceful sloping lawnsdotted with Italian stone pines, olives, yews, andpoplars. The interior lawns and pavement areworn, and some plane and poplar trees need tobe replaced.

InitiativeThe presence of temporary wooden trailersdoes not belie the potential of this special place.Once the trailers are removed, a courtyardshould be developed that would complementthe setting established by the three handsome,historic buildings. This initiative proposes:

A courtyard reflecting the formal Mediterranean landscape to complement the adjacent historic buildings

An appropriate setting for a social space that features an outdoor sculpture garden for permanent and traveling exhibitions


The Wellman Courtyard initiative will remove trailers

from the courtyard and realize the Howard vision of

a garden court following the original Tuscan plant

palette. This initiative also intends to provide a site

for the campus outdoor sculpture collection.

This image suggests a University Walk type of pedes-

trian path along the edge of the Central Glade.

Renewed Tuscan plantings around the perimeter of the buildings

A replacement of the asphalt drives on the southern slope of the complex with appropriately paved axial pedestrian paths

Brick paving and bench seating on the ter--race overlooking the West Circle and OvalGlade and a staircase on axis with the ValleyLife Science Building

This initiative could stand alone or be combinedwith the New Century Plan initiative providing anew building to enclose the north end of thecourtyard.

Campus Greens The campus greensare vestiges of the campus in its early stages ofdevelopment. These spaces provide for recre-ation in physical education classes, intramuralsports, club sports and field drills in the traditionof the Berkeley campus. Intercollegiate athleticshas sports venues at Memorial Stadium, EdwardsStadium-Goldman Field, Maxwell Family Fieldand Evans Diamond, but these locations are notgenerally open to casual use by the campus pop-ulation. Hearst Gymnasium is located betweenthe two remnant turf playfields. The campuslandscape benefits from the open space and scaleof the greens in contrast to the developed areas.

s e c t i o n 4 53

25 Hearst West Field The site occupied by HearstGymnasium, Hearst Northand West fields and BarrowsHall, was originally an out-door athletic complex.Hearst Gymnasium was con-structed on this site, sur-rounded on its campus sidesby a broad expanse of inter-connected lawns and playingfields. These spaces were bifurcated by the con-struction of Barrows Hall in the 1960s. HearstWest Field is now defined by a number of spec-imen live oaks and a southern magnolia. Someimportant peripheral features are the tall, vine-covered retaining wall along Bancroft Way andthe adjacent neoclassical staircase.

InitiativeHearst West Field currently hosts a group ofsurge buildings - Hearst Field Annex - that pro-vide an important element in supporting thereconstruction of campus buildings due to seis-mic retrofits. At some future time, the surgebuildings will be removed and the field will bereturned to its use as a recreational facility. Theinitiative proposes:

Remove the four temporary buildings on Hearst Field while retaining the California live oaks on the east edge of the site

Install an artificial surface intramural play field with night lighting

Historically, the University has always providedfields on the central campus. The demand fortheir use is so high that it is difficult to success-fully maintain a natural turf field year-round.Playfields add important balance and quality to

student life. It is vitally important to restoreHearst Field in support of the educational andintramural programs that rely on outdoor fieldspace. This landscape initiative may occur inde-pendent of the NCP initiative for a new buildingon Bancroft with parking under the playfield.

Edges and Gateways The campus edgesand gateways include the four perimeter roadsthat bound the central campus, and their plazasand entry points where over 40,000 people flowin and out of campus on a daily cycle. Eachfrontage has distinct attributes that are theresult of topography, land use, parking and trans-portation patterns. The campus park has beenprotected in recent decades by decisions tobuild parking lots and facilities outside of thecentral campus. The result is a less defined edgewith more pedestrian movement across the tra-ditional perimeter roads. The goal of these ini-tiatives is to create a graceful transition from thecampus to the community by treating the land-scape consistently along these edges. Vehicleand pedestrian entries need better definition andamenities to create a sense of place.

26 Hearst Frontage The campus frontagebetween Oxford Street andUniversity House was usedas growing grounds by theCollege of Agriculture in the19th and early 20th centuryand later became sportsfields followed by researchgreenhouses lining the north-ern edge of Hearst Avenue.West of the Agricultural Complex, modern aca-


Campus greens initiatives

(Light green identifies Greens)

demic buildings were placed, beginning in the1950s, until the former open fields were largelycovered with large structures. The Hearstfrontage is now bordered with three large build-ings- Barker, Koshland and Tolman Halls - creat-ing an urban character. Beginning at UniversityHouse, a more rustic landscape character pre-vails, with the redwoods and buckeye adjacent tothe creek. The lack of a sidewalk along the cam-pus edge is problematic in this area. The primarygateways into campus on this edge are at CoryHall, North Gate and Tolman Hall plaza.

InitiativeThis initiative requires collaboration with theCity of Berkeley on improvements including:

Install a program of street tree planting,consolidate newsracks and new wayfinding signage at pedestrian entry points

Provide sidewalk with pedestrian lighting north of University House, and provide pedestrian intersection improvements at Etcheverry Hall, Le Roy and LeConte-Archintersections

Eliminate the vehicular use of the free rightturn lanes at the corners of Hearst /Oxfordand Hearst/Gayley to improve pedestrian safety

Provide bike lanes where possible to improve safety for both pedestrians and bicyclists

Underground the utilities along the south side of Hearst Avenue

This initiative will make a significant improve-ment to the quality of the streetscape. Due tothe need to access classroom buildings acrossthe street, pedestrian safety improvements are

of paramount importance on Hearst Avenue.Removal of the overhead utilities would bringthe character of the campus park to the streetand improve the neighborhood appearance.

27 Oxford-Fulton Frontage The Oxford-Fulton frontagehas been a campus edgesince the earliest days of theUniversity. Oxford Streetwas widened into the cam-pus by agreement with thecity in the 1950s, creating abroad boulevard designedwith a planted center medi-an. Large academic buildings(Barker, Warren, Geneticsand Plant Biology) rise behind a thin fringe oftrees bordering the frontage from Hearst toWarren Hall, served by a pedestrian entry stair-way near Hearst Avenue. The grand CentralGlade meets the city at the West Crescent andestablishes the green park character of the cam-pus. Twin curving drives enter the campus atUniversity Avenue and Center Street. A tall treecanopy rises behind each of these drives, as amixed deep green backdrop to the sloped lawn.The busiest pedestrian entry along this edge is atthe Grinnell Natural Area, where a steady flowof traffic from Center Street and the DowntownBerkeley BART station pass into the campus.The southernmost portion of the Oxford-Fultonfrontage extends from the Crescent to BancroftWay, with a forecourt west of Edwards Stadium.

InitiativeThe Oxford-Fulton edge has an important roleas the ceremonial entrance to the campus.Although this edge is more cohesive than its

s e c t i o n 4 55

Edge and gateway initiatives

counterparts, it will be important for the city andUniversity to coordinate on continued improve-ments. The initiative proposes to:

Coordinate with the City of Berkeley to improve pedestrian safety at the Bancroft and Hearst intersections

Install street trees in the Oxford median

Add ceremonial lighting and a second cam-pus entrance sign along the front edge of the Crescent

Consolidate news racks and update wayfinding signage at each pedestrian entry

Add an electronic informational and map kiosk at the West Gate

The Oxford-Fulton Frontage is the historic seambetween the city downtown area and the formalentrance to the University. This initiativeencourages the continuing successful joint civicand campus cooperation of the recent improve-ments at Center Street. Long-term investmentsalong this frontage elevate the quality and serveboth the campus and community.

28 Bancroft FrontageThe University originally didnot own any property alongBancroft Way and the cam-pus ended just south of thesouth branch of StrawberryCreek. The campus movedsouth to Bancroft in incre-ments, from the early 20thcentury to the 1960s. As theacquisitions were incorpo-rated into the campus, Bancroft became thesouthern edge and the "seam" between the

Southside neighborhood and the Universityproper. With a large majority of campus resi-dences in the Southside neighborhood, this is themost active of the four edges and provides animportant informal front door to the campus.

From Oxford Street to Spieker Plaza, thefrontage is dominated by student athletic facili-ties, buffered by perimeter walls, lawns andstreet trees. The building frontages are close tothe street, as Bancroft Way was widened in thisarea by agreement with the city when EdwardsStadium was built. From Spieker to Sproul Plaza,an array of urban spaces includes the historicCraftsman-style Dance Facility, the StudentUnion Complex and the Sproul plazas. A land-scaped interlude fronts Sproul Hall, extending tothe elegant Hearst Gymnasium landscape of liveoaks and narrow lawns. From this area east, thefrontage becomes more urban in character withCollege Plaza and the law complex buildings.Interspersed along this edge are campus facilitieson the south side of Bancroft, such as the promi-nent Berkeley Art Museum. The primary gate-ways along this campus edge are Sproul Plaza,College Plaza and Spieker Plaza.

InitiativeThe Bancroft Way perimeter is the busiest cam-pus edge because of the residential student pop-ulation in the Southside area and the close prox-imity of the Telegraph Avenue business district.This initiative strives to unify the many types ofcampus spaces that front onto the street.Adjacent landscape initiatives are Sproul Plaza[17], Lower Sproul Plaza [18] and College Plaza[20]. Key points of the initiative include:

Coordinate with the city to provide a new streetscape aligned with future transit


Bancroft Way would benefit from parkway strips like

the one above to buffer traffic for pedestrians and

provide better planting sites for street trees.

improvements including: street trees,lighting on both sides; and the possible removal of parking to widen the sidewalk on the campus edge from Dana to Oxford

Consolidate newsracks, add seating and update wayfinding signage at entry points

Add electronic informational and map kiosks at Spieker Plaza, Sproul Plaza and College Plaza entries

The success of the Bancroft Frontage relies oncoordinating closely with the City of Berkeley to create an investment that benefits the campusand the community. This frontage needs to beupgraded to accommodate the high volume of

pedestrian traffic it serves for campus, perform-ing arts, mass transit and sports functions.

29 Gayley Road The present alignment ofGayley Road was establishedafter World War II, when thesmaller campus roadway inthe same vicinity was relocat-ed and redesigned to makeway for the construction ofLewis Hall. The Gayley Roadfrontage is divided into twosegments. Southwest of

s e c t i o n 4 57

Gayley Road is realigned and divided to extend the

Piedmont Avenue median. The design provides wider

sidewalk, bike lanes and rustic planting to link the

central campus with the hills.

Memorial Stadium, Gayley connects with thenorthern block of Piedmont Avenue, whichretains the character of a residential street witha median laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted inthe 19th century. Gayley formally begins northof the stadium with an open, curved roadwaythrough mature woodland punctuated with cam-pus facilities. On the east side are the HearstGreek Theatre, Stern Hall, and the FoothillHousing Complex. On the west side are LewisHall, East Gate, Donner Laboratory andFounders’ Rock. Most of the buildings have sub-stantial setbacks from Gayley Road with buffersof trees and landscape. This gives Gayley thecharacter of a rustic parkway rather than anurban road, with primary gateways into campusat East Gate and the Business School.

InitiativePreserve and enhance the rustic character ofGayley Road as the seam linking the campus andthe hills. The initiative proposes to:

Redesign East Gate to improve pedestrian safety and the visual image at this major campus entry

Working with the City of Berkeley, refurbishthe historic Olmsted streetscape from the Haas Business School to Bancroft Way,improving the plantings and accommodatingstadium crowds

Consider development of a divided roadwayto accommodate bike lanes and more generous sidewalks and landscaping

Maintain an informal, varied building setbackwith an average depth of at least 40'

Remove the free right turn lane from Hearst for a safer pedestrian crossing

Perimeter improvements benefit the neighbor-hood and campus communities together. Thecurrent conditions and width of Gayley Roaddeter cyclists, provide no protection betweenpedestrians and travel lanes and are under greatuse supporting the current building program inthe northeast quadrant of the campus.

Conclusion This collection of landscapeinitiatives represents a major program of invest-ment designed to significantly improve the quali-ty of life on campus and benefit the adjacentcommunity. The initiatives program is a commit-ment to improve the long-term quality of thecampus landscape and open space. While theycover only a portion of the campus, the initia-tives focus on the primary sites having historicalimportance, valued resources, high use or placesof interaction. The goals and policies provideadditional direction to many smaller areas inneed of detailed attention.

This Landscape Master Plan is intended to pro-vide a broad vision for the development of thecampus open space, rather than specific designdirection. Following the completion of theLandscape Heritage Plan (2004), the LandscapeMaster Plan will be supplemented with an imple-mentation section of Design Guidelines for theUC Berkeley campus. The University will evolveas a dynamic institution and continue to facenew challenges to maintain its leadership inteaching and research. The Landscape MasterPlan provides flexibility by allowing the landscapeto respond to the growth envisioned by the NewCentury Plan, while retaining its grandeur andlegacy for generations ahead.


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