The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) has selected SOM to design the Channing-Bowditch Student Housing Project, a new residential community that will provide housing, dining, and shared amenities for undergraduate students on the historic Anna Head campus.

The project continues a long-standing collaboration between SOM and the university, expanding with high-density student housing while incorporating two preserved campus buildings into the overall site strategy. The new 550,000-square-foot complex will support a student-focused residential community with up to 2,000 beds for undergraduate students. The design also supports a centralized dining hub and shared amenities, situated in a dense, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood just blocks from campus.

The site occupies the former Anna Head Campus and would require the demolition of three historic buildings to accommodate the housing complex. The project preserves and integrates two recently renovated heritage buildings—Alumnae Hall and Building E/F, which will connect to the new student residential buildings. The ground floor of the new towers connects directly with the Alumnae Hall to create a centralized student dining facility that blends the site’s history with modern student life.

The new construction features a 26-story tower along Channing Way and a 14-story building along Bowditch Street. To respect the site’s history, the podium is designed as a series of small-scale massings that complement the character of the preserved campus buildings. By stepping the tower’s footprint back into the site, a series of garden courtyards are created, as well as a prominent entrance plaza shared with the neighboring Martinez Commons. Together, these spaces will serve as a lively corridor for student life.