Adaptive re-use of a 1938 historic press building into a state-of-the-art museum with an adjacent free-form structure for a new film archive and theater. This project, also known as the BAMPFA, will be seeking LEED Gold certification.
Customized Solution
- Forell Elsesser recently completed this project with Diller Scofidio + Renfro and EHDD Architects. This new museum and cultural center project totals approximately 80,000 sq. ft. and incorporates a new state-of-the-art theater facility with the rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of an existing art deco style former printing plant.
- An interesting component of the project is the interaction between the new and existing structures. Large floating volumes connect the structures and act as a gallery and performance spaces. New gallery space is created below the existing building leaving the historic exterior intact.
- From the street, the theater appears to be floating inside a perimeter glass floor that allows those at the street to see into the subterranean library space. The structural system creates an illusion of floating spaces and volumes while preserving the historic and architecturally expressive components.
Highlights
- Owner: University of California, Berkeley, and Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive
- Architects: Diller Scofidio + Renfro, EHDD Architecture
- Contractor: Plant Construction
- Free-form metal skin and support structure integrated with a historic concrete building.
- New gallery spaces below the existing structures enable maximized use of space within an existing footprint.
Team
Geoff Bomba
Director of Engineering Operations
Masume Mansouri Dana
Principal
Mason Walters
Senior Principal