On Thursday, September 10, Berkeley City College President Dr. Denise Richardson welcomed members of the Peralta Community College Board of Trustees, Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson, Mayor of Berkeley and BCC Alum Adena Ishii, students, partners, and community members to cut the ribbon on the Berkeley City College West.
"This beautiful new building represents more than five decades of people believing in BCC, believing in our students, and believing that investing in education is an investment in our collective future," said President Richardson. "The taxpayers of Alameda County made that belief tangible through the passage of Bond Measure G in 2018. Their trust and support will have impact for generations."
Located at 2118 Milvia St. in the heart of downtown Berkeley, this 6 story, 60,000 square foot center for learning offers 15 new classrooms, a wellness center, a Learning Resource Center offering tutoring and private study rooms, and dedicated spaces for student government and Society of Scholars learning communities. Classrooms include 2 art studios, a communications lab, and anthropology lab. One of the architectural goals for the campus was to provide more areas for students to socialize and build community with a new student lounge, conference rooms, and a rooftop terrace, providing BCC's first ever outdoor gathering space with panoramic views of downtown Berkeley and the Bay.
The campus is LEED Gold Certified for factors including green energy consumption, sustainable building materials, and proximity to public transit options.
"Two years ago, we broke ground and talked about possibilities. Today, we get to officially celebrate opening the doors," said Chancellor Gilkerson. "May Berkeley City College West be a place where thousands of students discover their passion, find their purpose, and see possibilities for themselves that they may never have imagined."
Berkeley City College celebrated its 50th anniversary in April 2024 at the groundbreaking of BCC West. In its early history, BCC was known as Vista College and was nicknamed the "college without walls" due to offering classes in dispersed locations around the city, including UC Berkeley, church meeting rooms, and even the basement of the Ross Dress for Less. In 2006, Vista changed its name to Berkeley City College with the opening of its main campus building at 2050 Center St. The West campus represents more than five decades of people believing in BCC, believing in its students, and believing that investing in education is an investment in the community's collective future.
"We know that education is often the path towards a better life. That's what BCC was for me. It was a home away from home, a community, and a path to higher education that I may not have had otherwise," said Mayor Ishii. "So many students here have so much lived experience, responsibilities, and challenges that other students may not have to face. That's exactly why the students, staff, and faculty at Berkeley City College deserve to have a beautiful building like this."