As one of the newest additions to Jack London Square, an entertainment and business destination along Oakland, California’s waterfront, Channel House provides 333 modern units to potential Bay Area renters. With a direct ferry to San Francisco from the area, the development can draw both the city’s residents seeking reasonably priced square footage and Oakland residents searching for much-needed modern housing.
Architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB) worked with developer CIM Group to design the project that anchors the eastern edge of the district, with ground-floor retail space drawing visitors along Water Street, the area’s main pedestrian promenade. According to SCB, the building’s form, materiality, and character is rooted in the maritime history of the area. The building rises eight stories above street level and is expressed as a series of three wings with sloped fronts, while the façade references the waves of the nearby water.
The nautical vocabulary of the design continues into the landscape. Rusted steel buoys were creatively repurposed as planters, and large-scale sculptural Corten steel fire features connect the property to its shipyard past.
The community provides a variety of living options, with a unit mix of studio to three-bedroom floor plans and square footage ranging from 483 to 1,192. Some units enjoy private views of the landscaped courtyards as well as estuary views from the living spaces. At the ground floor, a series of townhomes and flats offer a more neighborhood-style living experience, with elevated front stoops and balconies connecting them to the pedestrian walkway.
Each of the apartments was designed to maximize space, light, and views. The contemporary, neutral interior palettes and finishes feature crisp lines and minimal embellishment to accentuate the natural vistas of the adjacent water and sky.
Amenity spaces leverage the building’s waterfront location. On the fourth floor, indoor and outdoor spaces flow together seamlessly and offer views of the adjacent harbor and the Port of Oakland’s iconic cranes. Indoor amenities include lounges, shared and private workspaces, and a fitness center. Outside, residents can relax in a series of sheltered courtyards or a large, elevated terrace for al fresco dining and gathering.
