Plans taking shape for UC Berkeley’s new Global Campus in Richmond

The Bay Area Council Economic Institute this week (Nov. 19) hosted a presentation on UC Berkeley’s plans for the Berkeley Global Campus, a new international educational and research complex that will be developed on the site of the university’s Richmond Field Station. Robert Lalanne, Vice Chancellor for Real Estate at Berkeley, and Terezia Nemeth, the Berkeley Global Campus Development Manager, briefed 75 participants drawn from development, construction, architecture, investment banking, technology, biotechnology, law, higher education, local government and consulates on the project.

The approved Long Range Development Plan for the site allows for up to 5.4 million square feet of commercial, educational, R&D and supporting uses. The new campus will host universities and private companies from around the world that will co-locate to conduct joint research with UC Berkeley. Key areas of focus will include energy, sustainability, big data and life science. The facilities will be developed through public-private partnerships, creating major opportunities for development both on campus and in the adjacent Richmond community. The build-out of the campus will add an important new piece to the Bay Area’s rich research and innovation network, and further strengthen its position as a global technology leader. The Economic Institute has supported the university in developing its financial strategy for the project.