Moffitt Library is back — and built for a new generation of UC Berkeley students

The $58 million renovation of Moffitt Library’s lower floors at UC Berkeley has reopened the Carol T. Christ Center for Connected Learning, nearly doubling student-centered space. The project includes an expanded Free Speech Movement Café, an enhanced maker studio, and flexible gathering areas designed with direct input from students. Suzanne Wones, UC Berkeley’s university librarian, emphasized the library’s role in fostering lifelong connections and innovation among undergraduates.

Student input guided every aspect of the redesign, from furniture and color schemes to the types of spaces created. Margaret Solomon ’27, student body president, highlighted the library’s value in providing a sense of belonging during her first year. The renovation, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, resumed with donor support, including a gift from alumna Nadine Tang M.S.W. ’75, who named the center in honor of her friend Chancellor Emerita Carol T. Christ.

The redesign prioritized student needs identified through surveys and workshops, focusing on increased seating, outlets, and collaborative spaces. The second floor now features the Moffitt Library Maker Studio with areas for sewing, 3D printing, and group instruction, alongside the Discovery Hub, which connects undergraduates to research opportunities and internships. The expanded Free Speech Movement Café anchors the third floor, which encourages socializing and studying.

The project also incorporated biophilic design elements, drawing inspiration from California’s landscapes to soften the building’s brutalist aesthetic. Nicole Brown, head of Moffitt Library, emphasized the library’s role in supporting student well-being through spaces like a reflection room and modular furniture. Leaders acknowledge the building will evolve based on student use, reflecting a collaborative and adaptive approach to meeting undergraduates’ needs.