Berkeley Apartment Rentals near UC Berkeley

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1916 Oxford Street • Berkeley, CA 94704

Buildings

Overview | Acton Courtyard | Artech | Bachenheimer | Berkeleyan | Fine Arts | Gaia | Touriel

The Gaia Building
2116 Allston Way
Berkeley, CA 94704

• larger image
• floor plans
• sample unit layouts
• photo tours

General Information

• Completed in 2001
• 91 one and two bedroom units
• Walking distance to UC Berkeley, BART, bus lines, cafes, restaurants and shops

Amenities

• Landscaped rooftop gardens and terraces
• Bay and hill views
• 2nd Floor courtyard
• High Speed T-1 Internet access
• Cable Television
• Multiple phone lines in each unit

Features

• Laundry rooms on every floor
• Built-in furnishings
• Ceiling fans
• Gas stoves
• Microwaves
• Dishwashers
• Garbage Disposals
• Refrigerators

Safety and Security

• Modern seismic reinforcement
• Fully sprinkled and direct alarm link to Berkeley Fire Department
• 24-hour entry and video recording
• 24-hour on-site building management and emergency repair
• Secure garage parking available

Rental Forms, Leasing Info

• Rental Forms

Floor Plans

• Floor Plans for the Gaia Building
• Gaia Building sample unit layouts

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The Gaia Building (Pronounced "Guy-a") (Completed 2001)

The Gaia Building got its name from the former Gaia Bookstore, a Berkeley institution that closed in 1999, and which was originally going to open a new store in the ground floor of the structure. (Gaia was the Greek goddess of the earth.) The 91-unit apartment building was the first high rise apartment building to be built in downtown Berkeley since 1972, when the Great Western Building, next to the BART station, was completed.

 

The architect, Kirk Peterson, designed the Renaissance Mediterranean Revival building with an eye to the Shattuck Hotel, a turn of the century Berkeley landmark, which sits across the street, on the corner of Shattuck and Allston Way.

 

The front façade incorporates extensive tile work done by local artisan, Nick Rizzo, and also features four original sculptures by local artist Kahil Bendib.

 

Location

One half a block west of the UC Berkeley campus, and one half block from the downtown Berkeley BART Station, the Gaia Building sits in the heart of downtown, and is within an easy walk of all the restaurants, theaters, and stores that central Berkeley has to offer. The central locations is also reflected in the habits of the residents, the vast majority of whom do not own cars.

 

The Apartments

The 91 apartments in the building consist of 1- and 2-bedroom units, many with views of the UC campus, the Berkeley Hills, or San Francisco and the Golden Gate. Each apartment opens to an outdoor walkway, allowing light and air into the apartments from at least two directions. There are two large rooftop gardens and roof decks, where residents can enjoy unobstructed views of all of Berkeley, San Francisco and the East Bay. On the 7th floor is a large reading room, open to all the residents and available for private functions as well.

 

Extras

All the apartments have gas stoves and refrigerators and come with a kitchen table and chairs. There are high-speed internet access outlets (T-1) in the living areas and in the bedrooms of each unit. Elfa shelving storage units are also included as part of the furnishings.

 

Security and Safety

The Gaia Building has was built to the 1999 seismic and fire safety standards, and comes with fire sprinklers in every room and a direct fire alarm system to the Berkeley Fire Department. Installed in the lobby is a closed circuit TV recorder, which allows residents to see who is at the entry, and which records all entrances and exits of the people coming into the building.