Berkeley Bay Trail Receives Award for Excellence

The Berkeley Bay Trail — a joint project of the City of Berkeley, District 4 of the California Department of Transportation and the Association of Bay Area Governments — has been recognized as a statewide award winner for "Excellence in Transportation" by Caltrans.

More than 100 entries were submitted from around the state.

The trail is one of two projects recognized in the "Transportation Related Facilities" category and represents more than a decade of collaborative efforts to improve access to the Berkeley shoreline. The 1.8 mi. stretch of pedestrian and jogging path runs along Interstate 80. It provides access to spectacular views of the bay and waterfront and links to Eastshore State Park.

"It's a platform to look out at the bay and learn to love it," said Tom Mikkelson, former chairman of the Bay Trail Project Board of Directors.

Lisa Caronna, Berkeley's acting deputy city manager said creating access to the Berkeley bay front was the main goal. "By working with the Bay Trail Project, Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Caltrans District 4, East Bay Regional Park District and other agencies and individuals, we were able to create a partnership to get the job done," she said.

Association of Bay Area Governments will manage the Bay Trail.

Scott Haggerty, Alameda County supervisor and president of the Association of Bay Area Governments, praised the Berkeley Bay Trail and its importance to the ABAG Bay Trail Project.

"The Berkeley Bay Trail is worth celebrating — not just because it was highly anticipated and is especially beautiful — but also because the spine is now complete between Emeryville and Richmond. As each new piece of this long-distance trail is finished, more areas are connected and many more people can appreciate the bay."

The trail will encircle San Francisco and San Pablo bays with a continuous 500-mi. network of bicycling and hiking trails, connecting the shorelines of the nine Bay Area counties, will link 47 cities and cross the regional major toll bridges.

The Bay Trail Project makes available grant funds for trail construction and design, participates in planning efforts and encourages consistency with the adopted Bay Trail Plan, educates the public and decision-makers about its merits and benefits and disseminates information about progress on its development. Additional information about the Bay Trail is available at http://www.baytrail.org.

Ratcliff and Prospect Sierra School Honored by CMA, AIA

EMERYVILLE — Ratcliff, an architecture, interiors and consulting firm, has been awarded the Private Commercial Honor Award in the Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada and AIA California Council's 2004 Design Award program.

Ratcliff's design of a dramatic curved entryway using engaging concrete masonry for Prospect Sierra School in El Cerrito was the award-winning entry.

"Our neighbors see the new entryway as a new image and an icon for El Cerrito," said Frederick ("Buzz") W. Heinrich. "The staff members are thrilled and tell me they are so excited to come to work in this new space."

Ratcliff met the unique challenge of the site's elevation by employing a curved facade to move along the street and accommodate the large entry span and window and deck cutouts.

Ratcliff developed a master plan for the two campus, K-8, independent school. The Avis middle school campus received a new library, 700-sq.-ft. reading room, two classrooms, a conference room and two administrative offices. At the Tapscott campus, the addition includes a new library and art/science/music building.

Ratcliff has a staff of 65, and serves academic, healthcare, and housing/hospitality clients throughout the Western United States. Prospect Sierra School has been serving the elementary educational needs of the East Bay for the past 20 years.