Golden State Today

On August 21, when 772 transfer students step into UC Berkeley’s Anchor House for the first time, they will quickly discover that the new 14-story building on Oxford Street is no ordinary campus housing. Instead, it is a home designed specifically for transfer students, a sizable population at Berkeley with talent, drive — and a unique set of challenges.

More than just bedrooms with desks, the approximately 450,000-square-foot building one block from campus includes an indoor/outdoor fitness center and yoga studio, a maker’s space run by the Berkeley Art Studio, and special places to unwind and watch movies, cook, garden and appreciate Bay Area sunsets with new friends.

Additionally, two new occupants of the ground floor, which has 4,700 square feet of retail and commercial space, will be a second location for the Transfer Student Center and a satellite Cal Student Store.

Anchor House aims to reimagine the student residential experience by providing transfer students — who often face financial, academic and social hurdles — with support and a sense of community. The project is entirely funded by the Helen Diller Foundation and includes costs for design, construction and furnishings. Proceeds from the net income of building operations will fund two-year scholarships for an estimated 400 low-income students at Berkeley each year.

“Anchor House is truly exceptional and is the best student housing I’ve ever seen,” said former Chancellor Carol T. Christ. “Every aspect of it is thoughtfully designed with transfer students in mind.”

In 2023-24, Berkeley had 6,646 transfer students comprising 20.7% of its undergraduate population. Recent data show nearly all of Berkeley’s transfer students are from California community colleges; more than 40% are first-generation college-goers who are Pell Grant-eligible; and one-third are from underrepresented groups.

The guiding philosophy for Anchor House is to nourish students’ minds and bodies to bolster their potential for success and help them discover healthier ways of living. The building took two-and-a-half years to construct and features abundant natural light, earthy hues, wood and tile finishes as well as terraces with sweeping Bay Area views. It also holds LEED Gold certification.

Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects along with BDE Architecture, interiors were done by Brand Bureau while landscape architecture was managed by ACLA. “Anchor House is a beautiful place designed to reflect the bounty and beauty of our location in California,” said Chancellor Rich Lyons.

The building also contains multiple event spaces for large catered events and workshops. Some areas will be open to the campus community such as Rausser College's culinary classroom while others will be accessible to the public.

With nearly 800 beds available in Anchor House it will help alleviate UC Berkeley's housing shortage where many transfers cannot afford local accommodation. Rent at Anchor House will be comparable to other campus housing options.

“Anchor House is in an especially ideal location across from campus,” said Ashley Tigue, a bioengineering major who served as ASUC transfer student representative in 2023-2024.

Not facing a commute allows more time for studying or participating in student organizations noted Tigue who was part of UC Berkeley's Task Force on Transfer Student Experience which concluded its work recently.

In addition to offering residential amenities for transfer students Anchor House features UC Berkeley’s first commuter lounge accommodating about 225 people including storage lockers restrooms seating facilities making it convenient for those traveling via public transit.

“This is an exciting time for Berkeley’s transfer students,” said Lyons emphasizing how much these students are valued within the campus community.