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La Farine Building

Berkeley, California 2003

Trachtenberg Architects designed this new, two-story, mixed-use building of 22,000 square feet that replaced a gas station at the corner of Solano and Colusa Avenues.

Emphatically a corner building, a focus on retail was just what this important intersection – long suburbanized by two gas stations – needed to restore the sense of vital pedestrian life that already exists on the northerly side of Solano Avenue.

The ground floor was developed as four separate retails tenancies, one of which was leased by an upscale French-style bakery. The second floor accommodates small offices. Parking for 31 cars is provided in an underground parking garage.

The goal was to create a high-quality building using a palette of timeless and durable materials, including Italian terracotta cladding, integrally colored exterior plaster, custom wood windows, and doors.

Cutsheet for La Farine

Trachtenberg Architects: Robert Nishimori, David Trachtenberg,  Ken Powelson, Ari Seligman
Owner: Avi Nevo, Aldar Investments
Engineer: Ingraham DeJesse Associates
Builder: Calia Construction

Budget: $5.2M