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 University to save Channing Hall.
In its resolution, the Commission noted that “while current plans call for the demolition of three of the historic structures, including the foremost Channing Hall, we believe that the UC is missing out on an opportunity to develop a project that remains in dialogue with the site’s history….The LPC supports the preservation of Channing Hall, especially any plan which can preserve the structure on its site and as part of a new housing project….The LPC understands that preserving the entire Anna Head site is not feasible given the UC’s overwhelming demand to add student housing units. However, to lose Channing Hall, the original and most representative structure of the campus, would be among the most significant losses to the architectural and cultural history of the West Coast in recent years. These two goals — building much-needed housing and preserving Channing Hall — are not incompatible. In a study completed in 2024, the UC recognized that the structure could be preserved as part of a 850-unit housing complex. Since then, local groups like Save Anna Head have further demonstrated that such a project is economically feasible.” The full LPC resolution can be read here.
The action of the Commission came in response to the decision UC Berkeley announced in March that it would tear down three historic buildings on the Anna Head School campus that were landmarked by the National Register of Historic Places and the City of Berkeley in 1980. In July, the Save Anna Head School Campaign leadership presented its appeal to the Landmarks Preservation Commission. After an initially positive response to the appeal, the LPC determined to take a strong stand to save Channing Hall. The Landmarks Preservation Commission has distributed its resolution to UC Berkeley to the wider community, including to members of the Berkeley City Council, the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, and representatives to the California Assembly and Senate.
We urge all those who support the campaign to save Channing Hall at the Anna Head School to community directly with the University’s leaders to share your views. Saving Channing Hall is a win-win-win, for the University, the City of Berkeley, and the Anna Head/Head-Royce School community.
Paul Chapman, Chuck Palley, Kit Ratcliff ’68, Nan Warren
The Save Anna Head School Steering Committee