In the heart of campus, a new hub opens for undergraduate education
UC Berkeley opens the Undergraduate Academic Building this fall, adding 25 classrooms and a 400-seat auditorium to centralize undergraduate education and host 10% of campus general assignment classrooms.
The Undergraduate Academic Building, opening this fall, introduces 25 general assignment classrooms—each seating up to 32 students—and a 400-person auditorium, becoming a central hub for undergraduate education. Located in the heart of campus, the building will host 10% of the university’s general assignment classrooms, replacing surface-level parking with modern learning spaces. Designed by LMN Architects, the structure features floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed mass timber, and LEED Gold certification, emphasizing sustainability and energy efficiency. The project, supported by state funding and $20 million from the campus, reflects a broader campus initiative to enhance student learning environments.
The building’s auditorium includes a below-ground lecture hall with a futuristic wavy ceiling and advanced acoustics, while a mural on the first floor highlights 41 influential women connected to UC Berkeley. A terrace above the auditorium overlooks Strawberry Creek and Grinnell Glade, offering seating, picnic tables, and charging outlets for students. Approximately 80 offices on the fourth and fifth floors will house the College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Division. The project, which began construction in 2023, replaces a surface-level parking lot and prioritizes natural lighting and ventilation.
UC Berkeley is also opening the Barbara and Gerson Bakar Gateway building, a new facility for the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society, featuring research labs, classrooms, and collaborative spaces for over 1,300 faculty, students, and researchers. A new eight-level parking garage with 660 spaces near Bancroft Way will serve commuters and event attendees. These developments coincide with the reopening of Moffitt Library and the Free Speech Movement Café after a yearlong renovation funded largely by donations, nearly doubling study space and increasing natural light.
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Oliver O’Reilly described the opening of three major student learning spaces in a single academic year as a singular moment for the campus community. The Undergraduate Academic Building, Bakar Gateway, and renovated Moffitt Library represent a lasting investment in undergraduate education, supported by state funding, campus contributions, and donor generosity. O’Reilly emphasized the importance of recognizing these contributions as students begin using the new facilities.