WEST OAKLAND GATEWAY
with envelope A+DStatus : Unbuilt
Year : 2017
Location: Oakland, CA
Client : 11 West Partners
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ee97d938de82c3532ac3c052226418cbf557fe873de6a01bcda625a7e6558b1f/11West_axon_full-01.png)
Situated at the gateway to West Oakland, this project imagines a vibrant future for a former pipeworks factory. Components of the Bay Bridge were assembled in this once-bustling manufacturing site. Today a collection of semi-derelict buildings have the potential to become a new community hub within a changing neighborhood.
![Boundary : 94607 Zip Code](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/147ee13877ac8d771af9ab87c7ccf9f375d9bc3e190d3f7c93115def5b40d59a/11West_Macro_1_zipcode_web-01.png)
![Boundary : I-580 / I-880 / I-980](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/591972047915eac308579504fdd22be3601aef99b8eaaa8359e024066176fbf3/11West_Macro_2_highways_web-01.png)
![Pedestrian Accessibility : 5, 10, 20 Minute Travel Times](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1a903193227221bf13b2892f4941687eefe86cf69d3f6f67460b4d89a8a1a4e2/11West_Macro_3_TravelTimes_Pedestrian_web-01.png)
![Bus Accessibility : 5, 10, 20 Minute Travel Times](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/792d7c3261960ab33c1ebc4d51091f5c17fda7e3f3fa3c5a018fffacf8b98f8c/11West_Macro_4_TravelTimes_Bus_web-01.png)
![Bike Accessibility : 5, 10, 20 Minute Travel Times](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7670c60dd40004e1b1eae04ae141ffe4eefc92e6eed849571733bb90a60c3a41/11West_Macro_5_TravelTimes_Bike_web-01.png)
In times of flux, transforming a site so steeped in local history requires extra care. Drawing on our experience with both PROXY and NOW Hunters Point, we proposed a multi-year process that would unfold iteratively with the involvement of area residents. Through ongoing activations, this process would invite the West Oakland neighborhood—a historically African-American community facing rapid gentrification after decades of disinvestment—to shape a vision for the site deeply informed by local needs and desires.
![Walkable Amenities : West Oakland](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/63de82e29002431e8a91c409ea5b36b167eee376fd29cf8f9ddd0e2ae734484d/11West_Amenities-Wheel-01.png)
![Walkable Amenities : Grand Lake](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6dc6a68c51f5acaa9bb9897c86c4e60630180ce26bc3a7b647884cecd24ab845/11West_Amenities-Wheel-02.png)
![Neighborhood Amenities : West Oakland](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f59f1e20bc625f5af21a725127fc143d77979a3ac882a4d5d8fb5a24f2e9e612/11West_Amenities_1_All_web-01.png)
![Neighborhood Amenities : Grand Lake](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/eb8b0308c6a69987e448d9e1c2486de2a16542fe5ad1dbb922eb3b3822818112/11West_Amenities_2_Comparison_All-01.png)
![West Oakland Amenities : Food](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fbbc95d7cfaf7c0e5d57c386d7801141e85658a7680b9e22eb37032cf8adc7d9/11West_Amenities_6_Food-01.png)
![West Oakland Amenities : Retail](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cf94372467824ccca5a35e54bba1bf955ffc28ff5730bb4804621eb9e4153976/11West_Amenities_7_Retail-01.png)
![West Oakland Amenities : Green Space](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7367328cf234f037dac36f5650e7078da1316b91b50842565b47e0697ea90c47/11West_Amenities_3_Parks_web-01.png)
![West Oakland Amenities : Community Services](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/680b252c498e9e89ee6d6bb5de66a1caf18db17f7ff71f37df94b93f96a6dbf2/11West_Amenities_4_Community-01.png)
![West Oakland Amenities : Civic and Cultural](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ac4d61c91a610262e7f9ee3b9c61e0a8b8a491e16046137747c4537581d3fac0/11West_Amenities_5_Civic-and-Culture-01.png)
To find appropriate points of departure for this plan, we undertook an analysis of existing resources and constraints within the West Oakland area, including comparing amenities and institutions with neighboring areas. We identified five areas of focus for West Oakland Gateway’s interim activations: cultural production, resource sharing, food, micro-enterprise, and spectacular events.
![Phase 04 : Full Activation](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a41cd17b74dfc31048bd8c0222e1ff1932e09f0b17f8392cf640e46a7a14aaba/11West_ProgramDiagrams_Phase-4-01.png)
![Phase 03 : Cultural + Retail Uses Expanded](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/51aff5ec6c054836da155f22ce1705635772a6c113c328f44570c3e96af1930a/11West_ProgramDiagrams_Phase-3-01.png)
![Phase 02 : Colab + Eatery + Market Added](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/06b5b742bed5084d40646eb2168a2bc687f7ebe5cc9adc3f967fbdc043c4b053/11West_ProgramDiagrams_Phase-2-01.png)
![Phase 01 : Studios + Coworking + Cafe](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2314f0f28795d3aa1d92845a6e4fdcf46cf42ba7a7d78b64197a5d6234f221b6/11West_ProgramDiagrams_Phase-1-01.png)
Beginning with a lightweight reoccupation of existing spaces, the project would evolve over time driven by a feedback loop of ongoing community engagement and an involved cohort of tenants and vendors. The West Oakland Gateway would emerge organically, ultimately accommodating a range of permanent uses and users rooted in the neighborhood.