Channel House is the newest addition to Jack London Square, an industrial-turned-business/residential/entertainment destination along Oakland’s waterfront. The 326-unit residential development anchors the eastern edge of the district, with a signature ground floor retail space drawing visitors along Water Street, the district’s main pedestrian promenade. A series of townhouses along Water Street help to transition the district from the newer commercial scale to the west to the residential scale of the existing neighborhood to the east. The Type III construction building rises eight stories and is expressed as a series of three wings with sloped fronts; their form, materiality, and character rooted in the maritime history of the area.
With architecture and interiors by SCB, the amenity spaces leverage the building’s prime waterfront position. Elevated to the fourth floor, a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces flow together seamlessly and offer unparalleled views of the adjacent harbor and the Port of Oakland’s iconic cranes marching along the estuary towards the San Francisco skyline across the Bay. Indoor amenities offer residents spaces to relax, work, and connect and include lounges, shared and private work spaces, and a fitness center. The project features ample outdoor amenities including a series of sheltered courtyards and a large elevated terrace for outdoor dining and gathering. The nautical vocabulary of the architectural design continues into the landscape; rusted steel buoys creatively repurposed as planters and large-scale sculptural Corten fire features create a strong connection to site’s shipyard past.
The residential units provide a variety of living options, from modest studios and borrowed-light one bedrooms, to dramatic two-bedroom corner units along the waterside. Dual-aspect courtyard 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 promenade.
