The Berkeley Design Review Committee is scheduled to review updated plans for an eight-story apartment complex at 1598 University Avenue in Central Berkeley, Alameda County. The project will bring over two hundred apartments near the North Berkeley BART Station. Nathan George of NX Ventures is the project developer.
1598 University Avenue rear view from California Street, rendering by DJR Inc
1598 University Avenue pedestrian view, rendering by DJR Inc
The eight-story complex will yield around 134,400 square feet. Parking will be included for 89 bicycles and 39 cars. Residents will benefit from 6,280 square feet of landscaped open space, including a community garden. Amenities will include a club room and a fitness center. Lounges and decks will be accessible on every floor owing to the structure’s unique stepped form. Apartment sizes will vary, with 149 studios, 20 one-bedrooms, and 38 two-bedrooms.
Of the 207 apartments, 21 will be designated as affordable housing for very low-income residents. The below-market-rate units allowed the developer to pursue a 50% density bonus.
1598 University Avenue previous design (left) and updated design (right), rendering by DJR Inc
The new plan set was drafted by Minneapolis-based DJR Architecture, as with the previously approved design from May this year. The firm is taking over plans drafted by the prolific Trachtenberg Architect, who has worked on all other projects submitted by NX Ventures over the last few years. In the previous design review, city staff white that the “reduction in building details appear to be too drastic, and makes the building design appear too flat.” DJR responded by reintroducing sunshades and a prominent cornice to the windows and incorporating different metal panel profiles. The exterior will have fluted metal panels, light oak wood, and protruding sunshades.
1598 University Avenue sidewalk view, rendering by DJR Inc
1598 University Avenue lobby entrance, rendering by DJR Inc
The 0.66-acre parcel is between Sacramento Street and California Street, close to North Berkeley BART Station and a 15-minute walk from Downtown Berkeley. The proposal is one of nine proposals by NX Ventures for transit-oriented housing in Berkeley. NX could create 1,880 units across Berkeley at full build-out, including the city’s future tallest tower at 1974-1998 Shattuck Avenue.
1598 University Avenue, aerial view by Google Satellite
The city’s Design Review Committee is scheduled to start tomorrow, June 20th, at 6:30 PM. The event will be held in-person at the North Berkeley Senior Center at 1901 Hearst Avenue. For more informations about how to attend and participate, visit the meeting agenda here.
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Good project. I like Trachtenberg designs. Some other projects in the Berkeley pipeline can learn from them.
Trachtenberg never misses
These posts feel like sponsored plugs; because Trachtenberg definitely has a couple of misses. Please be a little more discerning. No firm is perfect and because of the volume, I think Trachtenberg’s work has suffered a bit in their attention to design so the projects don’t all look the same. I’m glad this one is getting additional attention from another firm.