Berkeley City College celebrated a milestone achievement in the construction of its new Berkeley City College West campus. One year after breaking ground on the project, the superstructure of the six-story, 60,000 square foot academic and administration building reached its highest point. To mark the occasion, Berkeley City College and Peralta Community College District leaders, students, faculty, and staff joined its construction partners Kitchell, XL Construction, and Ratcliff, and city leaders and community partners in signing a ceremonial beam.
"This building is a promise crafted in concrete and steel that says to every student you belong here, you matter here, and here is where your dreams take shape," said President Dr. Denise Richardson. "Just as much as this moment is about construction progress it's about people, it's about the students we serve and their journeys, and it's a symbol of Berkeley's innovation, resilience, and its role as a hub of intellectual and cultural vibrancy."
Berkeley City College West will provide students with expanded access to academic and support services. The new campus will feature 15 new classrooms, additional faculty and staff offices, a library, student lounge, dedicated spaces for the college's growing Society of Scholars cultural learning communities, and a wellness center to support student mental health. Not only is it a cutting edge campus, but the conception and realizing of the project itself breaks barriers.
"It's a proud privilege for the Peralta Community College District on behalf of the Board of Trustees and everyone in the community to celebrate that this is a project led by women," said Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson, PCCD Chancellor. "With only 11% of women in the construction trade and other places, this project is being delivered to the City of Berkeley with a new mayor who is also a woman, a woman college President, and women leaders from our architect, to our construction management team, to our design firms. It is with great pleasure and pride that we're here today celebrating a milestone."
Berkeley City College West is scheduled to open to the community in Fall 2026. The project is made possible through the Peralta Community College District's Bond Program, funded by Measure G, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2018. This milestone would have been possible without the generous support of the taxpayers of Northern Alameda County - including the residents of Berkeley, Albany, Alameda, Emeryville, Oakland, and Piedmont - to whom Berkeley City College extends its deepest gratitude.
This Gems article originally appeared on the Berkeley City College website at https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/news/berkeley-city-college-tops-off-new-west-campus
Article and photos by Tom Rizza - thank you, Tom!
