UC Berkeley unveiled new renderings of its latest student dorm project, The Bancroft-Fulton Student Housing, bringing the vision into focus and showing the massive tower would become the largest dorm on campus by far, if built.
The Bancroft-Fulton Student Housing dorm would climb 23-stories on the university’s southwest corner at 2200 Bancroft Way, with a 12-story southern extension facing Durant Ave. The building will house 1,500 to 1,600 first and second year undergraduates. This project represents the university’s latest effort to expand its student housing to address shortages.
The university will present the design and budget to the University of California Regents in early 2025, according to a university capital strategies spokesperson. Last year, the Regents approved $7 million in predevelopment funding for site surveys, design and other preliminary work.
How much will The Bancroft-Fulton Student Housing dorm cost?
UC Berkeley estimates project costs will reach $425 million, with construction potentially beginning in October 2025, according to presentation materials from a Sept. 11 meeting. The dorm will replace an office building and surface parking on a 0.8-acre, UC Regents-owned lot. Plans include triple rooms for three students to share, a student dining facility, social lounges, on-site laundry and a fitness center. At 1,500 to 1,600 beds, Bancroft-Fulton Student Housing will dwarf the recently completed Helen Diller Anchor House dorm, which houses 775 students.
The university currently plans 2,700 beds in its development pipeline, and has identified eight additional sites that could accommodate up to 5,000 more beds.
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UC Berkeley provides the lowest rate of beds-per-student and faculty among all UC System schools at 21%. Student enrollment growth has outpaced new dorm construction and strained Berkeley’s local housing market, forcing many students to share rooms to reduce costs.
In 2017, UC Berkeley announced its goal to house all incoming freshmen and provide one year of housing for transfer and graduate students — requiring over 9,000 new beds, which would double the university’s current housing capacity.
Since 2018, UC Berkeley has added more than 2,400 beds through completing several projects: the 755-bed Blackwell Hall, 775-bed Helen Diller Anchor House, 761-bed xučyun ruwway Graduate Student Apartments and the 105-unit Intersection Apartments.
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Bancroft-Fulton Student Housing Project Factsheet
UC Berkeley Campus Housing Development
Project Overview
Location: 2200 Bancroft Way, Southwest corner of UC Berkeley campus
Site: 0.8-acre UC Regents-owned lot
Current Site Use: Office building and surface parking
Building Specifications
Height: 23 stories main tower with 12-story southern extension
Capacity: 1,500-1,600 student beds
Target Residents: First and second year undergraduates
Project Cost: $425 million (estimated)
Timeline
Design Presentation to UC Regents: Early 2025
Construction Start: October 2025 (projected)
Current Status: Pre-development phase
Pre-development Funding: $7 million approved
What Amenities Will The Bancroft-Fulton Student Housing Have?
Student dining facility
Social lounges
On-site laundry
Fitness center
Triple-occupancy rooms
Project Context
Will become largest dormitory on Berkeley campus
Part of UC Berkeley’s housing expansion initiative
Contributes to goal of 9,000 new beds
Addresses critical student housing shortage
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Campus Housing Statistics
Current UC Berkeley beds-per-student rate: 21% (lowest in UC System)
Total pipeline beds in development: 2,700
Additional potential development: Up to 5,000 beds across eight sites
Recent Housing Developments (Since 2018)
Blackwell Hall: 755 beds
Helen Diller Anchor House: 775 beds
xučyun ruwway Graduate Student Apartments: 761 beds
Intersection Apartments: 105 units
The Bancroft-Fulton Student Housing Strategic Goals
Double current housing capacity
Guarantee housing for all incoming freshmen
Provide one year of housing for transfer students
Provide one year of housing for graduate students
Reduce pressure on local Berkeley housing market
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Hey, I’m intrigued by this whole new dorm project. Seems like a massive undertaking! Great to see UC Berkeley making strides in student housing. Just wondering, how does the university plan to maintain an affordable rent for students, given the steep cost of construction? It’s exciting yet daunting given the ambitious timeline and needs. Keep us posted on any updates, and kudos to the team for such an impressive vision!