A new UC Berkeley residence hall, Anchor House, is set to open this month, marking its debut as the first university-owned housing complex in Downtown Berkeley. Located at 1950 Oxford St., directly across from the university, Anchor House is scheduled to open on August 21. This 14-story building, covering 360,000 square feet, is designed primarily for transfer students and can house 772 residents. The facility includes studios and shared apartments with two to four single bedrooms, each featuring kitchens and in-unit washers and dryers.
Amenities at Anchor House include a fitness center, art studio, game room, rooftop vegetable garden, balconies, and retail spaces on the ground floor. There are also specialized features such as a lounge for public transit users and a community kitchen. Rental costs range from $21,695 per academic year for a studio apartment to $19,995 for a bedroom in a shared apartment, and the housing is exclusively available to students.
UC Berkeley Capital Strategies spokesperson Kyle Gibson emphasized that the university does not describe Anchor House as “luxurious,” though its high-end design was funded by a donation from the Helen Diller Foundation. This project is notable as the first donor-funded building since Stern Hall, which opened in 1942.
The university admitted 5,503 transfer students for the fall, although final enrollment figures are still pending. In the previous academic year, 3,025 transfer students enrolled, with 648 residing in university housing. Transfer students represent over 20% of the undergraduate population, with 95% from California. Many of these students come from low-income backgrounds or are first-generation college students.
Construction of Anchor House began in February 2022 on a site previously occupied by a parking garage, a retail building, and an eight-unit apartment complex, which were all demolished. Community concerns arose about the removal of the rent-controlled apartment complex, a 112-year-old building. Gibson noted that the building was seismically deficient and necessary to redevelop. When UC Berkeley acquired the property in 2020, most residents moved voluntarily, and those remaining received relocation assistance packages, which were substantial but not disclosed in specific amounts.
The new building’s construction has faced criticism from some community members, who argue that funds would have been better spent on more affordable student housing rather than an upscale facility. Shanti Singh, a legislative and communications director for Tenants Together, criticized the demolition of rent-controlled housing and pointed out potential discrepancies in tenant protections between private and university housing.
Anchor House is unique as the only UC-owned student housing complex in Downtown Berkeley. In contrast, several private student housing facilities exist in the area. One significant proposed project is a 26-story development near Center and Oxford streets by a Chicago-based developer, which would create 463 units by late 2027. Additionally, UC Berkeley plans to develop housing at People’s Park, which will accommodate approximately 1,100 undergraduate students and 100 individuals experiencing housing insecurity.
Architect Matthew Baran, who is not involved with the Anchor House project, described its design as an eclectic mix of neoclassical and post-modern elements. He acknowledged that while the building’s design may not conform strictly to a single architectural style, it contributes to the neighborhood’s diversity and addresses monotony with features like carved balconies.
