Ed Roberts Campus / LMS Architects

Architects: Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects
Area: 85,000 ft²
Photographs: Tim Griffith
City: Berkeley
Country: United States

The Ed Roberts Campus, designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (LMSA) in Berkeley, honors the legacy of Ed Roberts, a leader in disability rights. The campus was created by seven organizations to provide accessible services such as vocational training and health support. Located at the Ashby BART Station, the 85,000-square-foot building embodies Universal Design, with features like a helical ramp, wide corridors, and specialized wayfinding for individuals with disabilities. Sustainable elements include natural ventilation, energy-efficient systems, and recycled materials. The facility houses offices, community spaces, a childcare center, a fitness center, and a café. The design process involved public Universal Design workshops and community engagement.

The Ed Roberts Campus, which recently opened in Berkeley, honors the legacy of an influential leader in the disability rights movement. Ed Roberts founded the Center for Independent Living (CIL) in 1972, the first organization globally run by and for people with disabilities. After he died in 1995, the CIL partnered with six other independent living and civil rights organizations to create a highly accessible, centralized facility offering services like vocational training, education, housing, and benefits assistance, as well as fitness and health support for people with disabilities.

Designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects, the 85,000-square-foot Ed Roberts Campus at the Ashby BART Station reflects the principles of Universal Design—creating spaces that are equally accessible and intuitive for individuals of all abilities. The design surpasses the accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. A key feature of the building is a striking helical ramp leading to the second floor, positioned prominently behind a glazed facade overlooking the main entry plaza.

The ramp construction and detail at the Ed Roberts Campus are incredible. Working with ARUP, we made the ramp feel weightless and supported from the sky. The design combines light, color, materiality, and structural collaboration to create an integrated sensual experience. This turns the simple task of moving from one floor to the next, often a challenge for the disabled, into a celebration.
Interview with Gregg Novicoff and Gwen Fuertes of LMSA

Additional Universal Design features include seven-foot-wide corridors to accommodate wheelchair users, automatic doors, and hands-free building controls. Restrooms are designed to support a range of abilities, while oversized elevators offer specialized controls for wheelchair users. The building also incorporates an easy-to-navigate wayfinding system, enhanced by acoustical landmarks, high-contrast interior finishes, and colored and textured flooring.

The facility incorporates various sustainable design features, such as exterior shading, operable windows for natural ventilation, and energy-efficient mechanical and lighting systems. It also utilizes recycled, sustainably harvested, and rapidly renewable materials. To enhance indoor air quality, non-toxic finishes and filtered outside air are used, addressing the needs of individuals with chemical sensitivities.

The two-story building houses offices, exhibition spaces, community meeting rooms, a childcare center for children with disabilities, a fitness center, job training facilities, and a café. Its design emphasizes a distinct civic presence, reflecting the values of its partner organizations. The exterior features materials like sandblasted concrete, stucco, and sustainably harvested Ipê wood shade screens. The building’s massing on the east and south sides aligns with the residential scale of the neighborhood. A semicircular main entry plaza serves as a drop-off point and transit hub for bus, taxi, bicycle, and BART users. A subgrade parking structure connects directly to the BART station via a new public elevator.

The design process included extensive public Universal Design workshops, along with active engagement with South Berkeley’s residents, local merchants, and the historic preservation community.