Central City East UCB Design Studio

Community development and affordable housing design in Oakland, CA

As Adjunct Professors in 2003, Alex Salazar and Fernando Marti led a team of upper division architecture and planning students from UC Berkeley through a community design process, delivering professional services to our community partner Allen Temple Baptist Church. The work focused on understanding forces that shaped International Boulevard in East Oakland and how to restore economic vitality to a neighborhood commercial district while reflecting residents’ cultures and aspirations. Students designed a variety of mixed-use affordable housing developments. The work was partially funded by Oakland’s Community and Economic Development Agency. The course was structured with:

● Readings, lectures and discussions
● Site visits to affordable housing
● Group research projects
● Community charrette with Allen Temple Baptist Church
● Mid-term and final pin up critique of independent design work with local architects
● Final report / public document