The Bancroft Library Renovation

Bringing UC Berkeley’s rare book collection to light

As the associate architect for Ratcliff, our team assisted with this seismic upgrade and complete re-design to 6 floors of the Doe Annex, which houses the Bancroft Library, one of the largest special collections libraries in the United States. Working closely with UC Library staff, we created high-performance climate zones for optimal temperature and humidity for the various parts of the collections including the Mark Twain Papers, the Center for the Tebtunis Papyri, and the Regional Oral History Office. The Bancroft Gallery and new exhibit casework in the corridors bring these renowned research archives into public view through rotating exhibitions.

“The design magnificently presents the dignity of the Bancroft Library, transforming it into the Special Collections Library it was always meant to be.”

 

David J. Duer

Director of Development and External Relations for Bancroft Library

Details and Team

Project Details

Berkeley, CA

Location

129,500 SF

Size

$64M

Project Cost

COMPLETED

STATUS
Team

Ratcliff Architects

Prime Architect

Degenkolb Engineers, Inc.

Structural

Taylor Engineering

Mechanical

O’Mahony & Myer, Inc.

Electrical

Huey Engineering, Inc.

Plumbing

Rutherford & Chekene

Civil

TEECOM

Telecom/AV

Walsh, Norris & Associates, Inc.

Acoustics

Davis Langdon

Cost Consultant

David Wakely Photography

Photographer
Team

Ratcliff Architects

Prime Architect

Degenkolb Engineers, Inc.

Structural

Taylor Engineering

Mechanical

O’Mahony & Myer, Inc.

Electrical

Huey Engineering, Inc.

Plumbing

Rutherford & Chekene

Civil

TEECOM

Telecom/AV

Walsh, Norris & Associates, Inc.

Acoustics

Davis Langdon

Cost Consultant

David Wakely Photography

Photographer
Project Details

Berkeley, CA

Location

129,500 SF

Size

$64M

Project Cost

COMPLETED

STATUS

As the associate architect for Ratcliff, our team assisted with this seismic upgrade and complete re-design to 6 floors of the Doe Annex, which houses the Bancroft Library, one of the largest special collections libraries in the United States. Working closely with UC Library staff, we created high-performance climate zones for optimal temperature and humidity for the various parts of the collections including the Mark Twain Papers, the Center for the Tebtunis Papyri, and the Regional Oral History Office. The Bancroft Gallery and new exhibit casework in the corridors bring these renowned research archives into public view through rotating exhibitions.

“The design magnificently presents the dignity of the Bancroft Library, transforming it into the Special Collections Library it was always meant to be.”

 

David J. Duer

Director of Development and External Relations for Bancroft Library

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