A $300 million donation to the University of California, Berkeley will pay for construction of a 14-story residence hall for 772 students.
The residence hall, called Anchor House, will house transfer students, reports Berkeleyside. The funds for the student housing are being provided by the Helen Diller Family Foundation.
In addition to building 772 beds, Anchor House will have about 17,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. The goal is to use the net revenue from rents to create scholarships for students to help with their housing costs, which run about $14,221 a year.
Rooms will feature large windows, kitchens, built-in washers and dryers in every unit and a common space. The hall also will have an 8,600-square-foot gym with yoga and meditation rooms.
Outside the hall, students can enjoy a central courtyard and a rooftop garden where they can grow their own vegetables.
Commuter students will be provided dedicated space where they can rest, take a shower, store belongings or use a computer while they are on campus.
The Anchor House project was envisioned to address the needs of transfer students, many of whom have fewer resources to navigate California than other students, according to the university. In 2020-21, the university says, 4,779 students transferred to UC Berkeley, the large majority coming from California community colleges.
Construction is slated to begin in November. Anchor House is expected to open in 2024.
