Fox Cottage preservation lauded

By Steven Finacom, Capital Projects

Peg Skorpinski photo

05 June 2002 | A campus building project has received accolades from a local historic preservation organization. The Berkeley Architectural Heritage Associa-tion gave the campus a commendation for the restoration of the historic “Fox Cottage,” a one-story brick residence on the Southside that was moved and renovated at a cost of more than $750,000.

The association “commends the University of California for renewing the life of this City of Berkeley landmark,” stated Mary Lee Noonan, chair of the awards committee. “It is a happy illustration of the way the spaces in which we live shape our lives.”

The honor was presented at a May 23 BAHA awards ceremony in Senior Hall on campus. In early 2001 the unreinforced brick structure was stabilized, separated from its foundation, slowly rolled around the corner on huge trailers and carefully inserted on its new location.

“The Fox Cottage move and renovation was a small project by some standards, but presented big technical challenges,” said Vice Chancellor for Capital Projects Ed Denton. “I am pleased at the way the project was handled and the fine result.”

The diminutive brick building is now located on Bowditch Street between Channing Way and Durant.