Monday, February 11, 2008

Part of Downtown Berkeley’s Future: Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse Begins Construction of Its New Green Performance Space, School and Café in Downtown

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/2/prweb667153.htm

The Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse’s plans for a new, 18,000-square-foot green performing arts and teaching facility, slated to open in early 2009, are a glimpse into downtown Berkeley’s future. The Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse organization is the longest-established full-time folk and traditional music venue west of the Mississippi River. It is famous for featuring folk, Americana, bluegrass, Celtic, blues, jazz, and Hawaiian artists and also offers a rich and diverse program of world music. The non-profit organization has started construction in Berkeley’s Downtown Arts District on a more expansive performing arts center that will have a 440-seat listening room, which is double the capacity of its existing venue. Also, the plans include an additional performance space seating 60-70 people, a state-of-the-art sound system, a café, and six classrooms, all the while maintaining Freight’s warm and welcoming atmosphere. The Freight & Salvage is family-friendly and caters to all ages with a music education program that offers workshops, lessons, and master classes.

Also, the new facility will be constructed using green technology, following rigorous guidelines to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Work crews have started carefully dismantling the 70-year old building, where the new facility will be built, and salvaging materials for reuse and recycling. The new front entry incorporates the existing timber roof joists, and the wood sheathing will be reused on the walls. While the renovation will radically alter the interior of the former downtown auto repair shop, the design will preserve the building’s essential character by retaining its facade and immediately adjoining interior space. The Freight's new building will have Berkeley's first "living roof" of California native plants, which will provide open space and habitat for birds and other wildlife. The living roof also acts as an insulation layer, trapping heat, cool air, and sound.

The Freight's new home in Berkeley's Downtown Arts District is directly across Addison Street from the Berkeley Repertory and Aurora theaters and the Jazzschool. The new facility is one block from Berkeley High School, one block from BART and AC Transit, and a few blocks from the University of California.

No comments: