Miller and Pflueger, Architects, 1926

— City of Berkeley Landmark, designated in 1984 —

In 1876 the Central Pacific (later Southern Pacific) Railroad expanded into downtown Berkeley. What is now Shattuck Square was the site of freight yards; Berkeley Station was located on the smaller block to the south. By 1903, as the business district grew, the existence of freight yards in the downtown was no longer considered appropriate. A small park with palm trees, lawns, and benches replaced the eastern side of the yards. The block was subsequently sold for development.

This building, the central element of a three-building retail and office complex, was designed in 1926 by James Miller and Timothy Pflueger, prominent San Francisco architects, to house Roos Brothers, a San Francisco based department store. The building was advertised as a "modern clothing emporium" designed to surpass all others with skylights and an electric lighting scheme featuring "Celestial and X-Ray Silver Mirror fixtures" (now removed). Berkeley's downtown Roos Brothers attracted customers with "public telephones, restrooms, beauty and hair cutting parlors & even a golf fairway and putting green.

All three Roos brothers were University of California graduates. The building was painted blue and gold, the University's colors, and golden bears still decorate the upper facade. The building was restored in 1978.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Berkeley, CA  |  Alameda County  |  94704  |  California  |  United States of America

Shattuck Square
Heywood Building
S.H. Kress Co. Store
Studio Building 1905-06
Francis Kittredge Shattuck Building
Golden Sheaf Bakery Annex
Site of David Park's Studio
Chamber of Commerce/Wells Fargo Bank
Ennor's Restaurant Building
Site of the Kellogg School

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.