Dwinelle Hall

[1] Although many myths surround the odd construction of the building, Dwinelle Hall was designed by Ernest E. Weihe, Edward L. Frick, and Lawrence A. Kruse, with landscape artists Eckbo Royston & Williams.

The location and design of Dwinelle Hall was chosen to allow easier access for the expanded student body after World War II, as well as for faculty after the center of campus shifted southward towards Sather Gate.

The north wing and office block are aligned with Berkeley's older buildings like California Hall, Wheeler Hall, and Doe Memorial Library (which are all aligned along a southwesterly axis pointing towards the Golden Gate), while the southern wing is aligned with the (at the time) newer section of campus containing Sproul Hall as well as the city grid to the south.

The construction site was initially intended for two separate buildings, and the annex was to be built with lower ceilings, and simple heating and ventilation systems, because it was designed to house offices rather than classrooms.

The project included the addition of two new floors to the office block, cost $10 million, expanded the building about 20%,[5] and required the temporary removal of the roof.

Soon after the building's construction, according to author William Rodarmor, students would "enter Dwinelle in their freshman year and emerge, blinking in the sunshine, just in time for graduation.

"[5] As it was constructed on a slope, there are separate entrances to the building that connect directly to the first, second, third, and fourth floors.

Cal Dining operates the Common Grounds cafe (temporarily closed) on level F of the classroom wing.