Berkeley Public Library
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Why it's listed
Berkeley's main public library occupies the southwest corner of Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue downtown. Completed in 1930 to designs by local architect James W. Plachek, it is a reinforced concrete block about 50 feet high, with stucco walls painted deep terra cotta and Mayan-inspired Zig Zag Moderne detailing in dark blue, brown and green. Tall pointed windows are separated by fins, and a sgraffito frieze by Simeon Pelenc shows Egyptian-like figures making, bearing and seeking books. Inside are marble finishes, high ceilings, original oak furniture and four levels of steel stacks. Plachek also designed the light fixtures, furniture and hardware. The library replaced a 1903 Carnegie building by John Galen Howard and was funded by special local taxes, with support that continued through the Depression. The friezes were painted over in the 1950s and restored in 1973. It is considered Berkeley's finest Moderne building and anchors an informal civic center along Shattuck Avenue.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it Berkeley's finest example of Zig Zag Moderne, combining modern materials, economical construction and artistic distinction. It is the work of James W. Plachek, who largely shaped downtown Berkeley and its civic center between the World Wars. It is also notable for its excellent preservation, its place among stylistically similar buildings, its trend-setting 1973 restoration, and the community support that funded it during the Depression.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002156, listed June 25, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2090 Kittredge St., Berkeley |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | June 25, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002156 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1930 |
| Architect / builder | James W. Plachek |
| Architectural style | Zig Zag Moderne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition and altered only slightly. Exterior friezes covered in the 1950s were restored in 1973. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.86822, -122.26845 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002156.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q66157553
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.