YMCA – PG&E Teen Center

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Exterior daytime corner view of three-floor building with bright green accents, bold graphic signage, and columns
Front view of building entry from street level with bright green façade walls and large graphic words
Interior view of lobby reception with view to street through large double-height floor to ceiling windows
Interior view of hallway and classroom through glass walls; students at tables attending a lecture
Students seated at tables with laptops in a bright classroom space with window and a blue accent wall

Project Information

Location

2111 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Berkeley, California

Project

YMCA PG&E Teen Center

14,000sf- 3-Story

Value

$6 Million

Completion

December 2010

Architect

Noll & Tam

Contractor

Pankow Special Projects LP

Financing

New Market Tax Credits Capital Campaign

Owner

YMCA of the Central Bay Area

Project Description

As the Project Manager and financing consultant for this 14,000 square foot center, ECB was a leader in developing the YMCA-PG&E Teen Center: a place where leadership is fostered, knowledge is expanded, and services are provided for the teens in the community. In fact, much of the planning, design, and program conceptualization came from direct teen involvement. Working alongside the YMCA and project development team, the teens were instrumental in creating an identity for their new center and in determining how to express their vision. 

In 2008, PG&E donated their outdated office building to the Berkeley-Albany YMCA for the specific use as a teen center. The project presented an exciting opportunity to activate a highly visible corner in the existing downtown Berkeley civic core. Once a dark nondescript two-story payment center for PG&E, the building has been transformed into a light-filled vibrant and colorful three-story structure reflecting youthful energy and promise. The first two stories are dedicated to teen center programming, while the third houses the YMCA Association offices and a rooftop deck overlooking Civic Center Park. The project received a LEED Platinum rating.

The $6 million project was financed using New Markets Tax Credits and charitable contributions.

Fact Sheet
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