'Pinnacle Of Student Housing': New Apartments Open Near UC Berkeley

BERKELEY, CA — A large new apartment complex opened recently near UC Berkeley, offering potential housing for students.

The new eight-story residential building, dubbed "Pique," is already expected to house nearly 500 UC Berkeley students despite having just opened, according to Gilbane Development, the building owners and developers.

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"Pique is the pinnacle of student housing in Berkeley, delivering a premium experience at an affordable price," Russell Broderick, Executive Vice President at Gilbane Development, said in a statement on Thursday. "With spaces that are personalized, private, proximate to campus, and crafted with precision, Pique has been intentionally designed to create opportunities for students to connect, grow, and thrive."

Inside the apartments, potential tenants can find several amenities, including in-unit laundry, stainless steel appliances and stone countertops, a flat‑screen TV in the living room, "boutique smart" furnishings with built‑in power, lighting, and storage, according to the developers.

Four-, five-, and six-room layouts are also available, according to the developers.

Outside, there's space for yoga enthusiasts, a fitness center, rooftop decks, a community terrace, co-working lounges and bike and scooter storage with charging stations, according to Gilbane Development.

UC Berkeley has historically struggled with a housing shortage, but the opening of several apartments such as the Pique could address those issues.

A decade ago, Berkeley had the lowest percentage of beds for students among UC campuses, according to university officials.

In March, the university said it will guarantee two years of on-campus housing to all incoming first-year students.

A new 23-story student housing building is still being constructed on the campus's southwest corner and will have more than 1,600 available beds, according to university officials.

A controversial 11-story student housing project being built over the former site of People's Park is slated to open next year, bringing even more housing to the area.