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In This Section:
Site planning addresses the relationship of site-specific improvements to important contextual elements of the landscape, such as views or circulation. In some cases, this includes establishing and defining contextual elements. Guidelines relating to site planning, used in conjunction with guidelines for planting, paving, lighting, and other landscape components, provide the overall direction and approach for site-specific landscape enhancements in the Classical Core.
The Site Planning section provides descriptions and guidelines for the elements listed below, which are described in further detail on the following pages. When a design is being prepared for a campus open space, all of these contextual elements should be considered.
- Formal and Dynamic Views
- Circulation Systems
- Grading and Drainage
- Service Areas
- Utilities
The West Entrance of campus emphasizes the east-west axis along the Central Glade, established by Olmsted and reinforced by Howard.
The vignette illustrates:
- Restoring historical views along the Central
Glade axis.
- Creating a pedestrian plaza within the West Circle.
- Using the Campus Standard light fixtures in symmetrical configurations along University Drive.
- Locating low bollards around the West Circle to control vehicular circulation.
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Dynamic views are experienced as one moves through the landscape. Continuously changing, dynamic views in the Classical Core focus on historic beaux-arts buildings and the movement through the outdoor rooms, such as Campanile Esplanade and Harmon Way. Dynamic views of the landmark Sather Tower (the Campanile) - the visible icon rising above trees, buildings, and city blocks - orient visitors to the campus from near and far.
Design Intent:
- Organize and integrate design components to respect the formal and dynamic views of the Classical Core.
- Conduct a site-specific spatial analysis to determine sensitive formal and dynamic views around buildings or within landscapes.
The view of the Central Glade with signature red tile roofs of campus buildings, and the San Francisco Bay beyond (2003).
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Circulation Diagram
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The Classical Core is pedestrian oriented with restricted vehicular use. Its historic network of vehicular and pedestrian routes affords access to campus buildings and amenities, provides places for social interaction, connects visitors to the campus's past, and serves as character-defining features in the landscape. The guidelines build upon and enhance the existing circulation system, establishing a clear hierarchy and maintaining the integrity and symbolic values of the Classical Core. |
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Illustrated in the accompanying diagram and discussed below, the circulation system in the Classical Core consists of:
- Vehicular Roads
- Walks
- Paths
- Trails
- Plazas
- Building Entrances
- Bridges
The Landscape Components section provides discussion and guidelines for the treatment of circulation materials and finishes in the Classical Core.
Design Intent:
- Apply the Campus Accessibility Master Plan program for improving and correcting deficiencies.
- Conduct site-specific analysis and programming to determine circulation systems, and material selection, within and around a project site.
Improvements along South Hall Drive create a harmonious setting in the heart of the Classical Core.
The vignette illustrates:
- Creating an allee of trees along the Drive, held back from the curb to manage street use.
- Defining road, walks, and plazas with distinct paving materials.
- Using the Campus Standard light fixtures in symmetrical configurations, held back from the curb edge, without obstructing prominent views of neoclassical buildings.
Vehicular Roads
Vehicular roads are routes designated primarily for vehicular and bicycle traffic. Examples of roads on campus include University Drive and South Hall Drive.
Walks
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Sather Road is categorized as a campus walk with its linear character (2003).
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Pedestrian walks are formal pedestrian ways that respond to the building geometries of the Classical Core. They are geometric in character, reflecting the beaux-arts influence, or curvilinear reflecting the picturesque or modern influence. Pedestrian walks include paved areas defined by buildings and paved areas adjacent to buildings in architectonic configurations. Though designated for pedestrian use, major walkways may also provide emergency vehicle access. Examples of typical pedestrian walks include Sather Road, Campanile Way, Oppenheimer Way, and the proposed University Walk.
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Paths
Pedestrian paths are sinuous circulation elements reflecting the picturesque influence. They provide linkages between exterior spaces and buildings. Integrated with the topography of the Berkeley campus, this network of paths results in flowing routes for pedestrians navigating the grounds. Pedestrian paths include those in and around Memorial Glade and Central Glade.
Trails
While not a primary means of circulation, pedestrian trails serve the natural areas of the Classical Core and other areas of campus. They weave through the heavily wooded sections of Strawberry Creek, providing access to quiet, intimate spaces. Pedestrian trails are not identified on the Circulation Diagram.
Plazas
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The distinct design of the Campanile Esplanade is an exemplary plaza on campus
(1996).
Courtesy Charles Benton.
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Plazas are large, social gathering areas on campus, generally located adjacent to major pedestrian routes. They serve as outdoor rooms for studying, places of interaction, contemplation, and eating. Plazas may be active or passive in character. Plazas are often affiliated with building entries and are typically defined by the surrounding architecture. Examples of existing plazas include Dwinelle Plaza and the plaza between Stephens and Moses Halls.
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Building Entrances
Primary building entrances are important historical features, serving as the forecourt and providing the transition from exterior to interior space. They contain the richest use of paving materials in intricate patterns. Exemplary building entrances include those at Wheeler Hall, Doe Library, and Giannini Hall.
Bridges
Due to their unique character and setting, bridges are an independent category of the circulation system. Bridges play an important historic role representing different architectural periods and styles, and a functional role of crossing the forks of Strawberry Creek. Although primarily for pedestrian use, some bridges provide vehicular access. The bridges are not identified on the Circulation Diagram due to the scale and quantity of data found on the plan.
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The campus's natural landform is characterized by the gentle sloping plane toward San Francisco Bay bisected by the drainage patterns of Strawberry Creek. The pattern of stair-stepped building terraces express the campus's formal topography. The constant change in grade from the east to the west on campus affords distant views to the west.
Design Intent:
- Use grading techniques that complement the campus's remaining natural landforms.
- Minimize the use of ramps and stairs for building connections to adjacent walks, paths, and plazas.
- Design surface drainage systems to minimize concentration of surface runoff and avoid soil erosion.
- Promote natural infiltration, such as grass-lined swales, to restrain surface flows, filter water, and reduce stormwater drainage into Strawberry Creek.
Opening views along Strawberry Creek reveals Howard's neoclassical bridge set
within the natural landscape type.
The vignette illustrates:
- Restoring views of the 1910 bridge and views across Strawberry Creek through the management of the tree canopy within the creek woodland.
- Revegetating creek banks with low native plantings suitable for the riparian woodland environment.
- Locating site amenities at pedestrian gathering areas.
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Buildings within the Classical Core typically have four main facades and lack any "back of building" for service uses. However, service areas are needed for loading docks and large building utilities as a functional requirement of building programs. They may also include trash containers, which should be relocated or screened to improve building appearance or consolidate service uses.
Design Intent:
- Integrate enclosures for service areas with adjacent buildings, and use finishes similar to the construction materials of the buildings.
- Accommodate large utilities or trash containers within the building. If not possible, cluster components and screen from entries and primary pedestrian paths.
- Integrate external enclosures into the surrounding environment with appropriate lighting, materials, and finishes. Conceal enclosures by using trees, shrubs, and vines.
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Due to the topography and the landscape context of the Classical Core, each site on campus is unique and requires significant coordination of building and site utilities.
Design Intent:
- Design and coordinate the location of new surface utilities to accommodate long-term maintenance requirements and minimize conflicts with the campus's mature landscape.
Below Grade Elements
The relationship of underground elements and the landscape is highly important in this dense, urban campus. Examples of underground utilities include electrical substations, manholes, controlled environment vaults, and steam service.
Design Intent:
- Consolidate new underground utilities into "tunnels", in multiple, parallel installations, under roads, walks, and plazas to minimize impacts on the landscape.
- Locate surface hatches, utility covers, and ventilation and access elements within paved areas. If planted areas are the only option, coordinate with existing tree locations and integrate into shrub and ground cover plantings to conceal their appearance.
- Conceal vault covers in modular paving areas, utilizing a pan-like cover to accept the finish paving material.
Above Grade Elements
Above grade utilities include backflow preventors, fire standpipes, gas docks, emergency generators, and other large elements. They typically require maintenance access and clearances.
Design Intent:
- Integrate above grade elements into the site or building design to minimize their impact on the landscape.
- With new building construction, consolidate utilities with adjacent facilities where possible.
- Locate air intake units for buildings away from outdoor sitting areas and service areas to minimize the intake of smoke and exhaust fumes.
- If utilities occur in the landscape, locate away from primary entries and walks and screen with an enclosure and/or plant material.
- Integrate external enclosures into the surrounding environment by using appropriate scale, materials, and finishes.
- For enclosure materials, use concrete, wood, or metal, depending on the landscape context.
- Paint above grade utilities with the campus standard color (Elephant's Breath) unless specific color is required by code or the location makes it more desirable to blend with an adjacent structure color.
- Coordinate landscape and engineering disciplines to prevent visible utilities in historic view corridors and other undesirable locations.
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