Body Wisdom, a non-profit dance group devoted to “InterPlay,” a set of ideas and techniques involving improvisational dance, choreography and music, purchased a two story 1920’s unreinforced brick masonry building to house their organization. The building is sited at Telegraph Avenue and 23rd Street in the Northgate District. This district is quickly becoming popular as an arts area with cafes, clubs and galleries. This corner building will be a highly visible addition to the developing art community.

A seismic upgrade required five new shotcrete walls to anchor the building. The design of the shotcrete walls preserved the existing windows. When construction began, the discovery that the building had no foundation complicated the seismic upgrade.

A façade renovation more closely restores the original face to the building with the removal of a 1950’s bar front. The City of Oakland provided partial façade renovation funds. Settlement and earthquake damage was repaired in the masonry. New turquoise tile inset into the original piers brings new interest to the storefront. New street trees and trellises will soften the hard urban edge to the streetscape.

The vacant boarded up bar and retail spaces at the ground level have been renovated into a 1400 s.f. dance studio. New windows glazed with art glass allow daylight into the studio while preserving the dancers’ privacy. The removal of the central bearing wall allows for a clear 40’ x 35’ room with a 15’ high ceiling. Removal of the wall necessitated a large steel beam be inserted into the space to carry the second story floor. The existing interior plaster was removed by hand allowing the brick to become the interior finish. A new sprung maple floor will be installed.

Eventually the upstairs apartments will be renovated for an artists-in-residency program.