Issue link: http://ihouse.uberflip.com/i/1479405
A second goal is to provide additional room for residents and visitors to congregate outdoors in front of I-House. The project will expand the terrace near Edmonds' Café and create additional patio space at the top of the front stairway. Mark Cassettari, I-House Director of Physical Operations, says, "This project is really exciting. It's going to bring more life to the front of the building. The changes we're making will actually allow us to serve beer and wine outdoors on the patio in front of the café. Imagine sitting in front of I-House with a cup of coffee or a glass of beer, looking down across Berkeley to the Golden Gate Bridge!" Finally, this restoration project is designed to enhance the beauty of I-House. A facility evaluation report from June 1994 states: "The streetscape can best be characterized as a cacophony of plantings, furnishings, walls, planters, signs, and surfaces. The many uses that occur along the street have been managed individually, resulting in a fragmented appearance which detracts from the building." To bring the front entryway in harmony with the design of I-House, we are simplifying the front streetscape. First, we are removing the unnecessary concrete walls and metal railings, and relocating the metal bike "cage" to the side of the building along Bancroft Way. The unsightly utility pole and wires that currently detract from the views of and from the House, will be moved underground. And of course, we will be adding new drought-tolerant plants and other landscaping. Thoughtful Restoration T he need for restoration has been on the I-House "to-do" list for many years. In fact, in a heavily used building that is nearing 100 years old, "restoration" is a term that's almost synonymous with "ongoing maintenance." There's always lots to do. With the support of alumni and friends, during the recent I-House closure and reopening period, many projects were completed, including restoration of the Heller Patio at the center of the House; renovation of the I-House Café (renamed "Edmonds' Café" after I-House founders Florence and Harry Edmonds); and most recently, the refurbishment of the Sproul Kitchen and the Gamble Lounge, both of which are community spaces for use by residents of I-House. If you've had the opportunity to visit in the past couple of months, you've likely seen that we have yet another project underway—restoration of the front of the House. This is a large, multi-faceted project that will address a number of outstanding issues of accessibility, functionality, and ambiance. One goal of this project is simply to make I-House more accessible to all. Toward this end, we are installing new ADA-compliant ramps for I-House residents and visitors with wheelchairs or other mobility aids, making alterations to stair heights, and installing new hand railings. We are also lowering the sidewalk to street level along Piedmont Avenue, providing new and better access to the campus shuttle, which stops in front of I-House. This beautiful drawing illustrates a view of I-House in the past. The newly remodeled Edmonds' Café 4 International House Times