Foundation Underway For 2140 University Avenue, Downtown Berkeley

Foundation work is currently underway for the UC Berkeley Innovation Zone at 2140 University Avenue in Downtown Berkeley, Alameda County. Progress is visible across the full project site, with construction further along on the first phase along Addison Street and Oxford Street, and at the Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials. UC Berkeley Capital Strategies is responsible for the development.

2140 University Avenue construction crane, image by author

Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials, rendering by Gensler and UC Berkeley Capital Strategies

Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials establishing view, rendering by Gensler and UC Berkeley Capital Strategies

The first phase of construction is Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials, a five-story facility designed to support innovation related to clean energy, advanced manufacturing technology, and energy-efficient transportation. The complex will include wet laboratories, event spaces, and community rooms. Gensler is responsible for the architecture.

The second phase of construction will be the Innovation Genomics Institute and Bakar Labs, a six-story complex intended to promote research into health and agricultural applications of genome editing technology. The UC Berkeley Capital Strategies writes that “the building will provide IGI researchers with the opportunity to apply CRISPR genome editing to advance science and technology in human therapeutics, agricultural engineering, and other applications.” Weiss / Manfredi Architects is the lead design architect, working with executive architect DGA.

UC Berkeley Innovation Zone North Building, rendering by DGA and Weiss/Manfredi

UC Berkeley Innovation Zone North Building pedestrian view from the University Avenue cross-walk, rendering by DGA and Weiss/Manfredi

2140 University Avenue construction site, image by author

Demolition of the former University Hall started in the summer of 2024, and the site was fully cleared in Fall 2025. Crews have also demolished the last two remaining structures, the Ernest Heron Building and Martha Sell Building. The first phase is expected to finish in 2028, and the second phase in 2029.

Turner Construction is the general contractor.

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