DURANT
TOWER
From ADU to 20-storey tower
What began as a request to design a small two-unit ADU evolved, through strategic policy insight and design innovation, into a 20-story, 169-unit student housing tower less than one block from UC Berkeley. Approved by the Berkeley Zoning Board in April 2025, the project represents a major milestone for pro-housing design in one of the Bay Area’s most challenging and change-resistant neighborhoods.
By pairing California’s State Density Bonus Law with Berkeley’s new Southside Rezoning, YCA helped our client unlock the full potential of their 0.22-acre parcel—transforming underutilized land into much-needed student housing and demonstrating how thoughtful design and progressive policy can work together to deliver housing abundance.
The tower will provide 169 residential units, including 26 affordable homes, 19 of which are replacement below-market-rate units. Inside, the design organizes the building into a series of “vertical neighborhoods”—smaller social networks with shared kitchens, study areas, and lounges that promote connection, wellness, and belonging within a high-rise community. These social spaces are expressed in the tower’s form and façade, making community visible from the street.
PROJECT INFO
Project: Durant Tower, Berkeley, CA
Units: 24 units
Client: Collabhome.io
Architect: Yes Community Architects
SERVICES
Feasibility Studies
Entitlement Design
Architecture