SITE DESCRIPTION

Built in 1971, Willard Clubhouse is located at the southeast corner of Willard Park at 2720 Hillegass Avenue, between Derby Street and Stuart Street. The small 565 square-foot one-story, one-room clubhouse has long been a staple of Berkeley’s after-school and summer day camp programs, with each program serving a maximum of 45 elementary school aged children.

Enrollment for both the after-school and summer day camp programs quickly reach the maximum capacity every year with a typical waitlist of approximately 25 children. Occupancy of the existing clubhouse is limited, therefore in order to accommodate 45 children, staff makes use of the adjacent covered patio, as well as the outside open lawn area to run activities and programs. Additionally, the large open lawn area makes the clubhouse and park a suitable location for the City’s recreation staff to host events such as the Annual Spring Egg Hunt Extravaganza. In the spring of 2019, the City of Berkeley selected ELS Architecture and Urban Design, a local firm, to provide professional architectural design services for the Willard Clubhouse and Restroom Replacement Project. Together with the City, the project team set out to design a new Willard Clubhouse that would meet the City’s program needs and also be sustainable, modern, accessible, and multi-generational.

The final conceptual design for Willard Clubhouse calls for a 1,700 square foot all electric, multi-purpose recreation building which features a lobby, all-gender restrooms, an office, kitchen, and a large community room with a dividing wall to split the space into two smaller rooms. Completion of the project is anticipated for Spring 2025.

PUBLIC ART PROJECT

Berkeley Civic Arts seeks to commission an Artist to translate two-dimensional imagery to tile or mosaic on an interior lobby wall measuring 18’-5” wide by 10’ high. (The available area for artwork is 18’-4.5” wide x 9’- 6”.) While the main viewing experience within the Clubhouse, the artwork will also visible from the outside through the glass entryway.

PROJECT GOALS

a. To enhance a visitor’s experience of Willard Park and Clubhouse with a visual amenity
b. To respond to the site thematically, which may include the history, architecture, culture, or other site-specific concepts
c. To appeal to a wide age range of Willard Park and Clubhouse visitors and guests

PROJECT BUDGET

The total Artist contract amount is $135,000. This is inclusive of the Artist fee, design, fabrication, transportation, travel, and any other related project costs. The City will hire a licensed tile contractor to install the artwork. Artist will be required to be on site during installation.

Please see the commission document for full application instructions and project information. Click here to access the application form.