The University of California Berkeley Gateway Data Hub project is located on the northern edge of the campus, offering both a point-of-entry for the local community and a hub for students and faculty. The 380,000 sq. ft. complex will house classrooms, lecture halls, and gathering spaces to accommodate a wide variety of users and programs, including the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS): a new division at UCB that seeks to address pressing social and ecological issues with applied scientific thinking and cutting-edge technology.

The majority of the facade is wrapped in a high performance, custom unitized curtain wall that gives the building its luminous, articulated presence. At the enclosure, crest shaped formed panels of varying width and depth are composed in shifting rhythms, lending the elevations a sense of dynamism and movement while subtly breaking down the overall scale. Glass surfaces are finished with a gradient translucent frit that gently blends the transition from opaque cladding to clear vision glass, creating a soft edge between solid and transparent zones. At the crescents, specialized bird safe treatments mitigate collision risk while preserving daylight and views. At the ground floor and fifth floor, full height glazing with a high performance neutral solar control coating opens generous views to the campus and the Berkeley community beyond, reinforcing the Gateway’s role as both threshold and living room for the university. 

Heintges is providing building envelope consulting services during all phases of design and construction.