Berkeley, CA, January 27, 2010 - Officials with the University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA) announced today that the BAM/PFA Board of Trustees will be considering plans to repurpose 2120 Oxford Street, a building located at Center and Oxford streets in downtown Berkeley. Pending Board approval, museum officials expect to ask the University of California, Berkeley to bring a repurposing plan for community comment and possible approval by the UC Regents sometime in 2010.

The building was formerly known as the UC Printing Plant. Built in 1939, the 47,857-square-foot structure has been vacant since 2005. It occupies part of the site previously intended for a building designed by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito. Lingering economic uncertainty compelled the university to modify its plans late in 2009 and to explore alternatives to the Ito design.

“The printing plant building is really an undiscovered gem,” said BAM/PFA Director Lawrence Rinder. “It has many distinctive features that make exploring repurposing not only feasible, but architecturally exciting.”

Initial investigation of design options is being conducted with EHDD, the local firm of record on the former new building project at the site.

About BAM/PFA
The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA) is the visual arts center of the University of California, Berkeley, one of the nation's leading research universities. BAM/PFA believes that art inspires the imagination, supports learning at all ages, and contributes to positive social change. One of the largest university art museums in the United States in both size and attendance, BAM/PFA presents 15 art exhibitions and 450 film programs each year. Website: bampfa.berkeley.edu

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