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Save Anna Head School Steering Committee Opposes UC Berkeley’s Decision to Destroy Channing Hall

The following are comments from members of the Save Anna Head School Committee who worked as volunteers over the past six years to collaborate with UC Berkeley on a plan to save Channing Hall. 

Chuck Palley, President of Cahill Contractors, Retired

There has been a very important development in the effort to save Channing Hall at the Anna Head School in Berkeley.  At its meeting on December 4, the Berkeley Landmarks Preservation Commission unanimously decided to pass a resolution to “express their support for preserving Channing Hall of the Anna Head School as part of the University of California’s ongoing effort to redevelop the site into student housing.” The Commission has sent its resolution on January 20, 2026 to the UC Berkeley Chancellor, Vice Chancellor for Administration, and Campus Architect in an effort to convince the Unive

Cal plans to house at least 1,000 students on the site. It says it can’t afford to save any of the landmarked buildings, the oldest dating to 1892, that a group has fought for years to preserve. Berkeleyside by Kate Darby Rauch March 27, 2025,  For the full article see:  https://www.berkeleyside.org/2025/03/27/anna-head-school-demolition

We began the new year with some distressing news: UC Berkeley has advised us that they intend to tear down three landmarked, historic, nationally-recognized buildings at the Anna Head School in order to build student housing.

Save Anna Head School Steering Committee Press Release                          May 16, 2024

We were greatly distressed yesterday afternoon to learn that a group had occupied the Anna Head School and Channing Hall in particular. 

Berkeley, CA--December 14, 2022

The past year has been challenging for the Save Anna Head School campaign, with some positive achievements overshadowed by continued neglect and resulting fires and floods on the campus.

BERKELEY, CA—September 30, 2022

As we reported in the spring, the school suffered a significant fire in the Gables building, and we continue to work with the University to address the impact, urging that they take steps to further secure the school.  We are also engaged in dialogue about the new Student Services Master Plan that is developing this academic year that will include consideration of the Anna Head School.

As news of the fire at the Anna Head School fire spread, I received emails and calls from individuals throughout the community and across the country.  Here is a sample of their voices and their grave concern for the future of this historic landmark.

Paul Chapman, Chair, Save Anna Head School Steering Committee

The photo of the burned school is extraordinarily sad, and heartbreaking to see.

           UC Administrator

In January, Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín expressed his belief that the historic Anna Head School, now part of UC Berkeley, is worthy of being saved.  Commenting on the campaign to save the school, he noted: “I strongly support their work. We need to preserve Anna Head.”  The Mayor’s backing has bolstered the efforts of those working with UC Berkeley who seek to make it a priority to save the school, which is landmarked by both the City of Berkeley and the National Register of Historic Places.

https://www.dailycal.org/2021/12/28/campaign-seeks-to-secure-funding-to-preserve-anna-head-school/

Most of the Anna Head School campus is currently occupied by the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues (ISSI), a UC Berkeley research institute. Over the last year, a group of citizens, led by the Steering Committee below, has been working to save the historic structure and to ensure a home for ISSI.