Heathcock Hall Construction Update

Heathcock Hall Architectural Rendering

Photo: Architectural rendering of Heathcock Hall

A 21st Century space for 21st Century science 

Work is underway on the first new building project since the completion of Tan Hall in 1997 -- Heathcock Hall -- reflecting our commitment to creating a state-of-the-art learning environment for the College that will support us well into the 21st Century. With four floors encompassing modern research and teaching space, Heathcock Hall will be unlike any other on the Berkeley campus. Its flexible spaces will support the dynamic intellectual, social, and creative life of our faculty  and students.

This page provides an overview of key construction updates created for occupants and visitors of neighboring buildings. Information about the project will also be available on the Capital Strategies website(link is external).

Construction Activity

Major Site Activity*
Current/UpcomingAnticipated DateAdditional Info
Make ready work May - November 2024
Site setup June 24-July 8
Potholing and Median Removal July 15th through July 26th, 7am-4pm Potholing (PDF)
FIre Hydrant Interruption (PDF)
Traffic Control Info (PDF)

Nonstructural demolition, mechanical/electrical/plumbing/fire protection (MEPF) safe off in Latimer and Lewis Hall

September 2-30
Relocation of the utilities below Pimentel Plaza to make way for the new Air Intake structure September 2-30
Traffic control on Gayley Rd. at University Drive / trenching on the street to tie in fire and water lines November 4-15 from 6am to 5pm Traffic Control Plan (PDF)
The link between Latimer Hall and Lewis Hall will no longer be accessible Starting November 26 The stairs within the link between Latimer Hall and Lewis Hall on the 3rd and 4th floors will remain accessible as highlighted in green on the attached markup. The Heathcock Hall construction project will build wall closures in the hallway and access will be strictly limited to authorized Heathcock Hall construction personnel.

*Only activity likely to affect neighboring areas is listed.

Project Milestones

  • Air Intake Relocation - April 2025
  • Egress Stairs at Latimer Hall - April 2025
  • Lewis and Latimer Connecting Link - May 2025
  • Make Ready Phase Complete - June 2025
  • Retaining Wall Complete - July 2025
  • Start Structural Steel - October 2025
  • Start Exterior Facade - January 2026
  • Structural Top Out - February 2026
  • Exterior Skin Complete - June 2026
  • Elevators Operational - August 2026
  • Street Improvements Complete - August 2026
  • Phase 2 Complete - March 2027

Noise Forecast

  • 09/02-09/06: Noise Level (1-10) - 5
  • 09/09-09/13: Noise Level (1-10) - 5
  • 09/16-09/20: Noise Level (1-10) - 5
  • 09/23-09/27: Noise Level (1-10) - 5

Noise projections are in proximity of the work. Experience will vary with distance and if physical barriers provide separation.

Cal Projects Notification of Access Interruption

For detailed information download the Cal Projects Notification of Access Interruption PDF's:

Heathcock Hall Newsletter

A PDF newsletter issued by Plant Construction with info on Heathcock Hall construction impacts on campus:

Also see additional newsletter document:  Heathcock Hall Schedule for Work Near Labs(link is external)

About Heathcock Hall

Heathcock Hall will be a vibrant hub for new highly interdisciplinary research and education to address society’s needs by providing more efficient and effective catalysts, biologically engineered renewable materials, novel nanomaterials for artificial photosynthesis, ultra-fast and secure quantum-based data processing architectures, and alternative molecular products that set new standards of function and sustainability.

  • Opportunities for Partnerships: You can join us in completing this vision for our future.
  • Give Online(link is external): Help support Heathcock Hall by giving online. Choose 'The New Frontiers Fund', which directs donations to Heathcock Hall.
  • Give by Phone: Donors who wish to make a credit card gift over the phone may call the Gift Services office at 510-643-9789 between 9:00 AM-4:00 PM PST, Monday-Friday.
  • Groundbreaking Event: Read all about the historic groundbreaking event that took place on Thursday, May 2. 

Architectural drawing showing aerial view of Heathcock Hall's location in relation to the Chemistry Complex buildings.

Rendering of Heathcock Hall

Reinvigorating the campus’ eastern gateway, the roughly 80,000 square foot building will attract rising leaders from around the world to the chemical sciences. 

The future Heathcock Hall Heathcock Hall will contain four stories of modern laboratory space.

Heathcock Hall will contain four stories of modern laboratory space to accommodate research in synthetic chemistry, physical chemistry, and chemical and biomolecular engineering. 

Rendering of Heathcock Hall with students on the plaza.

World-class faculty, students and visiting researchers will come together in modern, modular laboratories—environmentally efficient, state-of-the-art facilities — that will provide optimal  conditions for pioneering unfolding research.

Rendering of Heathcock Hall

The major research focus areas, all of which are linked by the vision of a sustainable future, include decarbonization and clean energy, drug discovery for disease, and the reation of advanced materials.

Rendering of Heathcock Hall

Heathcock Hall will enable faculty and students at the College of Chemistry to drive Berkeley’s pre-eminence in research and education to new heights—conducting sustained breakthrough research in their respective areas, reinventing the direction of their fields, creating altogether new fields, and solving societal-scale problems.