Flexible collaboration in a
vibrant environment.
UC BERKELEY L+S
LOCATION
Berkeley, California
SIZE
1,509 SF
SCOPE
Architecture
Interior Design
Furniture Design
Environmental Graphics
PHOTOGRAPHY
Michael David Rose
The Undergraduate Advising Suite for the College of Letters and Science (L+S) provides academic advising services to the largest of UC Berkeley’s 14 colleges and schools.
The departmentʼs goal for their new space was to establish a visible and open resource for the department while also increasing efficiency and flexibility within the workplace. Blitz was tasked with transforming two adjacent classrooms on the main floor of the historic Dwinelle Hall into a modern, warm, and functional workspace for L+S faculty and staff to meet with students. Unlike the former advising office, which was located in series of enclosed private offices with no natural light, the new suite was designed to maximize visual connection and encourage collaboration among advisors.
The new College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Advising Office serves as welcoming beacon within Dwinelle Hall and provides students and faculty alike a flexible and visually transparent work space.
Flexibility was a primary driver for the design. The reception and student intake area of the suite is designed to accommodate different layouts depending on the number of advisors available to assist students. Mobile and height adjustable furniture allows multiple configurations. Academic counseling offices used for meetings between advisors and advisees are bright and airy. Doors and side lites with obscured glazing allow daylight into the suite while maintaining privacy for personal or confidential discussions. The work cafe provides an area for informal, casual meetings for up to ten people. The centrally located meeting room doubles as a training room. Mobile and nesting tables and chairs allow the room to transform from conference to classroom layouts to suit different user group needs.
Bright paint colors help create a bold, energetic, and comfortable environment that fosters collaboration and enhances the visitor experience.
In order to create an entrance that celebrates the prominent location, the design team added Berkeleyʼs distinctive bright yellow brand color to the walls outside of the suite. The vibrant suite signage is easily noticeable from the exterior of the building for increased visibility.
