The heart of the Berkeley Clean Energy Campus system will be a new central electrified plant to heat and cool campus buildings that will be constructed underneath North Field in the coming years. Once operational, the new central plant will allow for the shutdown and decommissioning of the existing natural-gas-fueled cogeneration plant, a primary source of campus carbon emissions. Future energy demands of the Clean Energy Campus necessitate an additional switch station to increase the capacity for electricity to reach the UC Berkeley campus. The decaying and largely unused Old Art Gallery building being in close proximity to North Field is an ideal location to house the new Switch Station #8.
This project will refurbish and restore the Old Art Gallery building for this purpose. The 1904 building was originally the campus powerhouse, supplying electricity and steam to the young Berkeley campus. As the campus grew, power demands exceeded its capacity and, in 1930, a new central plant opened in the southwest part of campus. In 1934, the former powerhouse building reopened as a gallery to display art and served this purpose until a new University Art Museum opened on Bancroft Way in 1970. The building was subsequently used for storage for more than 50 years. In restoring and structurally improving the Old Art Gallery building to house the new Switch Station #8, the small brick building that began its storied life as a powerhouse more than 100 years ago will become a key component in UC Berkeley's clean energy future.
Restoration of the Old Art Gallery building began in April 2023, starting with the Works Progress Administration murals that were added on the east facade in 1936 and 1937. After the mural restoration was completed, they were subsequently covered for protection during the remainder of the overall building restoration project. The murals will be uncovered when the project is completed.
Additional restoration work on the exterior and interior of the building will begin in April 2024. A portion of the adjacent Sproul Parking Lot will be closed for this portion of the project. Exterior restoration will include the brick facade, the roof, and the large central skylight. Inside, structural improvements will be made so that the building meets the requirements of the UC Seismic Policy. Afterwards, the new switch station equipment will be installed in the building. Work is anticipated to be complete in spring semester 2025.
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