Issue link: http://ihouse.uberflip.com/i/1319488
8 International House Times T he majestic dome that represents the very heart of I-House stands at the intersection of Piedmont and Bancroft as it has done for 90 years. It is the crowning glory of a beautiful building that shelters and supports the crucial work of International House: cultivating intercultural peace through understanding—a mission that has proven to be more important than ever in light of the current movement for racial justice and the many grave threats to peace around the world. In spite of having been constructed directly on top of a major earthquake fault, the iconic dome's sturdy walls have held strong for almost a century. But in order to prepare for the reopening of I-House, major retrofitting has been a top priority. Structural strengthening took place on the 2nd floor of the North- and South-side mezzanine-level balconies and the West-side 4th-floor hallways. Additional strengthening includes the addition of four concrete supports under the dome and thickening of the Northeast portion of the walls inside the dome. Seismic reports were completed and submitted to campus by architects, seismic engineers, and special inspectors, making I-House the first building to have completed the seismic recommendations made in the campus report from last year! Construction continues on the 2nd-floor Southeast wing of eight resident rooms previously occupied by the Berkeley International Offices. Four of those rooms are being returned to service as resident rooms and two gender-neutral bathrooms are being built and scheduled for completion. Generous donations by the I-House community of alumni, friends, and family have made these crucial upgrades possible and will enable I-House to eagerly welcome the residents back to live and learn more safely under the dome. n Preparing for the Future Under the Dome Views from the Dome