Downtown Berkeley in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Berkeley Public Library
City of Berkeley Landmark - Designated 1982
Addition, Ripley/BOORA Architects, 1999
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
This building is an impressive example of Art Deco or zigzag Moderne style with cement plaster chevrons above the window bays and stylized ram’s head pilaster caps. The sgraffito frieze by Simeon Pelenc depicts Egyptian-style figures engaged in book production. Citizen support of a 1996 bond issue allowed the building to be renovated, seismically retrofitted, and expanded.
Erected 2011 by Berkeley Historical Plaque Project.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Education. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.
Location. 37° 52.096′ N, 122° 16.112′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. It is in Downtown Berkeley. Marker is on Kittredge Street near Shattuck Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2290 Kittredge Street, Berkeley CA 94704, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Morse Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Tupper & Reed Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Armstrong College Building (about 300 feet away); Elks Club Building (about 400 feet away); United States Post Office (about 500 feet away); Berkeley Y.M.C.A. (about 600 feet away); Site of John Hinkel Livery Stable, 1900 (about 600 feet away); Berkeley High School Alumni: Chinaka Hodge, Phil Lesh, Joshua Redman, The Lonely Island (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berkeley.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 720 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on February 8, 2012. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 6, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.