Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials at UC Berkeley

Overview

Opportunity

Solution

Impact

Team

A new campus front door linking UC Berkeley and downtown, Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials is where research is translated into scalable, real-world solutions.

Location

Berkeley, California

Client

University of California, Berkeley

Expertise

[FPO] Architecture Sciences Brand Design Education

Opportunity

A university renowned for its world-changing research sought to bring the regional innovation community together in a unique facility that catalyzes discovery.

The future of energy and materials innovation will be shaped by a wide spectrum of thinkers — researchers, technologists, entrepreneurs, and makers. At the heart of its innovation ecosystem, UC Berkeley is accelerating this critical work with a purpose-built destination that strengthens connections between campus, industry, and the community. The design is interwoven with its surroundings, acting as a visible landmark for innovation, and providing infrastructure to develop, test, and scale transformative technologies.

Why This Matters

01
Accelerating Energy and Materials Ventures
Laboratories and flexible scale-up spaces are needed to launch companies focused on groundbreaking solutions for the planet, from renewable energy and carbon capture to greener materials and agriculture.
02
Connecting Campus and Industry
This first building in the Berkeley Innovation Zone brings campus innovators together, with space for up to 75 tenants under one roof and the resources needed to launch and scale.
03
Making Research Visible
To be truly connected to the community, UC Berkeley envisioned the building as a showcase of the work happening inside, inviting the public, tenants and investors to its innovation ecosystem.

We’re going to be practicing what we preach, meaning that the building is going to be very energy-efficient, and the architecture is going to symbolize what the companies’ inside of it are trying to accomplish.

Solution

At the heart of the project, a vertical indoor-outdoor spine establishes a new model for energy-focused environments where sustainability, connection, and breakthroughs thrive.

Positioned between campus and downtown, Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials supports campus innovators as they move off campus to build companies and scale new groundbreaking technologies. Dedicated lab and office workspace for tenants is complemented by shared prototyping, making and gathering space. Connecting them, the “Powerhaus” is a renewable energy engine and social hub, with exterior terraces and seating, and a naturally ventilated stair that encourages movement and spontaneous exchange. Transparent façades, indoor-outdoor work environments, and solar-responsive systems turn the building into a living demonstration of energy innovation.

From brief to build: how an energy and materials tech incubator turns sun, wind, labs, and shared space into design drivers.

The process began with tours of similar facilities at peer institutions and detailed programming to define the needs of the new facility and confirm the target budget. Design development explored a flexible, technologically future-proofed laboratory building for unknown future focuses of energy technology, while the “Powerhaus” strategy used passive solar shading, PV-integrated glass, sawtooth roof panels, and naturally ventilated outdoor work environments to align architecture with the project mission.

Impact

Driven by resilience and shaped by the environment, Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials embodies its core mission, making the innovative work happening inside legible.

The architecture itself amplifies UC Berkeley’s research ecosystem with a flexible design that ensures the facility can adapt as research advances and new technologies emerge.

What Changed Because of This

01
Optimal Innovation Experiences
Flexible laboratories, scale-up space, equipment, access to UC Berkeley faculty, and shared campus resources lower barriers for 75 startup tenants.
02
Energy Performance
The entire façade uses state-of-the-art PV-integrated glass harvesting solar energy to directly power the building while offering shade and protection from the elements.
03
External Connections
Shared seminar, social, and breakout spaces invite the community, industry, researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors in. By increasing interior visibility, the project introduces another cultural and educational dimension to the building.

Bakar Labs for Energy and Materials is a place where transformational ideas will graduate from the campus to the real world.

Recognition

01

Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials News

Hao Ko shares the importance of collaboration in developing lasting planetary solutions.

02

The Daily Californian

A look at the project’s anticipated impact as construction kicked off.

Team

Project Leadership

Sandy Mendler

Sandy is a nationally recognized architect and planner focused on creating inspiring new models for healthy, sustainable living. She brings deep expertise as an Education practice area leader for Gensler’s Northwest region, driving the design of college and university facilities that build vibrant communities, advance research, and support student-centered experiential learning.

Hao Ko

Hao is Gensler's Global Director of Design and a Regional Design Principal, focusing on building a dynamic practice through an open and collaborative culture. An inquisitive architect by nature, he is passionate about transforming experiences through deep research, the craft of technical excellence, and rigorous intellectual thought, all while striving to design beautiful places that change people's lives for the better.

[FPO] Rudy Letsche

Placeholder for office leadership name "Rudy Letsche" — no matching pagePeople yet. "pnpm migrate resolve-stubs" swaps this for the real page once it exists.

[FPO] Carroll Crump

Placeholder for office leadership name "Carroll Crump" — no matching pagePeople yet. "pnpm migrate resolve-stubs" swaps this for the real page once it exists.

FAQ

01

Where is Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials located?

The project is in UC Berkeley’s new Innovation Zone.

02

When will the building open?

The expected opening date is 2028.

03

What is the purpose of the building?

The building is an energy technology incubator with laboratory, office, conference, and shared interaction spaces for researchers and entrepreneurs.

04

How does the design support collaboration?

The “Powerhaus” is a social hub with exterior terraces and a naturally ventilated stair to encourage movement and spontaneous exchange. Shared amenities include a 200-person divisible seminar area, social kitchen, and flexible event spaces.

05

What sustainability strategies are included?

The all-electric building integrates photovoltaic technologies designed to produce 10% of annual energy needs and is targeting LEED Platinum certification.

06

How many companies can the project accommodate?

The facility is planned to accommodate up to 75 tenant companies once fully occupied.

Related Work

project

Convergence Hall

A next generation innovation hub in Draper, Utah, unites research, entrepreneurship, and short-term living, creating a connected ecosystem where proximity drives discovery, exchange, and impact.

project

UC Berkeley Barbara and Gerson Bakar Gateway Building

Designed to address the biggest questions in sciences and society, UC Berkeley’s Barbara and Gerson Bakar Gateway Building is a magnetic home for interdisciplinary collaboration.

project

222 Fifth

Located in the heart of Seattle’s innovation cluster, 222 Fifth is a state-of-the-art life science research facility and modern workplace that adapts to the evolving needs of the industry and surrounding community.

Related Expertise

Architecture Sciences Brand Design Education

A new campus front door linking UC Berkeley and downtown, Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials is where research is translated into scalable, real-world solutions.

A university renowned for its world-changing research sought to bring the regional innovation community together in a unique facility that catalyzes discovery.

Why This Matters

At the heart of the project, a vertical indoor-outdoor spine establishes a new model for energy-focused environments where sustainability, connection, and breakthroughs thrive.

From brief to build: how an energy and materials tech incubator turns sun, wind, labs, and shared space into design drivers.

Driven by resilience and shaped by the environment, Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials embodies its core mission, making the innovative work happening inside legible.

What Changed Because of This