University House, Berkeley

The University House at the University of California, Berkeley, serves as both a residence and an event venue. Originally designed by Albert Pissis in the classical Mediterranean villa style and completed in 1911, the building has a rich history. It was initially named the President's House and housed the University of California presidents from Benjamin Ide Wheeler to Robert Gordon Sproul. Since 1965, it has been the residence of the Berkeley campus Chancellor.

The house’s exterior showcases a classical Mediterranean villa design, with a prominent triple-arched, recessed portico at the entrance. Round bays with balustrades mark the east and west ends. The front facade faces south, aligning with the main campus axis that extends eastward into the Berkeley Hills. The 2.5-acre grounds feature formal gardens, a rose garden, a greenhouse, and a topiary clock donated by the Swiss government.

Inside, the layout includes a reception hall, living room, and dining and drawing rooms on the ground floor, often used for official functions. The second-floor houses private living quarters. Much of the house’s art is on loan from the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.

Over the years, University House reflected its residents' influence. Under Ida Sproul, wife of President Robert Gordon Sproul, it was modernized and hosted large gatherings with specially purchased porcelain dishes. During World War II, the house became a sanctuary, with its attic safeguarding the art and furniture of professor Chiura Obata's family during their internment.

As the only residential building in the historic core of the Berkeley campus, the University House holds a unique position. It stands as a testament to the evolution of the university, serving as both a home and a hub for official events, deeply intertwined with Berkeley’s history and traditions.