Campus holds forum on new research, teaching facilities
By Ian Tan
UC Berkeley recently outlined to the public its plans for three modern, seismically sound research and teaching facilities to bring together scientists at the crossroads of the physical and biological sciences and engineering.
On Feb. 26, more than 60 Berkeley residents, UC Berkeley researchers and staff discussed plans for Stanley Hall, Davis Hall North, and a low-rise structure north of Soda Hall. The buildings will further campus efforts to focus interdisciplinary research on solving society's most pressing needs.
Stanley Hall and Davis Hall North are severely constrained in their ability to meet current research needs. Built in 1952 and located close to the Hayward Fault, Stanley Hall is rated seismically "poor." It would be replaced by a building designed for interdisciplinary teaching and research in the health sciences. Davis Hall North, on Hearst Avenue at Le Roy, is a remnant of an original building constructed in 1931. The new replacement buildings will provide space for laboratories, seminar rooms, classrooms, computing facilities and offices. Just north of Soda Hall, a new building would include two stories underground and one above ground.
The new Stanley Hall will bring together biologists, physicists, chemists, computer scientists and engineers in a collaborative setting. "In this environment, researchers will concentrate on solving pressing biomedical and health problems such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, AIDS, spinal cord injuries and new techniques to study the function of the human genome," said Thomas Budinger, chair of the Department of Bioengineering.
Richard Newton, dean of the College of Engineering, described an initiative called CITRIS (Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society), which will use information technology to develop solutions to critical societal needs. The goal is to create inexpensive technologies widely available for practical applications in transportation management, disaster response, seismic planning, environmental monitoring, medical alert systems and energy usage. This research will be housed in the new DAvis and Soda Hall facilities.
The meeting provided an opportunity for community members to comment on the scope of the environmental review of these projects. Concerns raised included traffic and parking issues, whether recreational facilities should be removed to provide additional parking, and the interface between the campus and the northside community. A draft environmental impact report will be published in May and will address these concerns and other environmental issues.
For information about the projects and dates and locations of future public meetings, visit
www.cp.berkeley.edu or call UC Berkeley Capital Projects at 643-4793.
