First Unitarian Church
Also known as: University Dance Studio
.JPG){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Built in 1898 at 2401 Bancroft Way in Berkeley, this brown-shingled building was designed by Albert C. Schweinfurth for the First Unitarian congregation. It has a wide, low gabled roof, a large round window of amber glass, porch columns made of redwood logs with the bark left on, and a barn-like sanctuary with exposed dark timber trusses. Its design reflects the Bay Tradition of building with natural local materials and avoiding ornament, an approach tied to Joseph Worcester, Bernard Maybeck and Charles Keeler's Hillside Club, whose members included many congregation members. The church is Schweinfurth's only known surviving work in the area in essentially original form. The congregation held its last service here in 1961, when the University of California bought the property. The building now serves as a university dance studio, with mirrors added to the interior walls, and it is surrounded by later campus buildings. It remains the second oldest building on the campus.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it was an important early building of San Francisco Bay Region architecture, expressing the 'building with nature' ideas of the Worcester-Maybeck-Keeler-Hillside Club circle. It is Schweinfurth's only known surviving work in the area in essentially original form and the second oldest building on the campus. It also housed a congregation with ties to Berkeley's artists and intellectuals.
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 81000143, listed December 10, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2401 Bancroft Way, Berkeley |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | December 10, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000143 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1898) |
| Architect / builder | Albert C. Schweinfurth |
| Architectural style | Bay Tradition / rustic redwood 'Simple Home' style (Arts and Crafts influenced) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Regents of the University of California and occupied, used as a university dance studio; the interior has been emptied but the structure and shape are not significantly altered. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.86863, -122.26117 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 81000143.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453941
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.