Tapscott Building Rehabilitation

An Oakland Landmark Reimagined

client

Rabin
location

Oakland, CA
size

51,000 SF

The Tapscott Building, a long-abandoned Beaux Arts landmark at 19th Street and Broadway, formed part of a redevelopment of Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood. TEF restored its historic terra cotta facade and updated the century-old structure for modern use, creating a new office and retail destination in time for the building’s centennial.

Close view of a historic brick façade with elaborate terra-cotta ornament, fluted pilasters, decorative cornices, and large dark-framed windows. A modern glass addition rises above the roofline. Pedestrians walk along the sidewalk below, and a city street with the Paramount Theatre sign extends into the background.

Close-up, upward view of a historic brick façade with ornate terra-cotta detailing, large dark-framed windows, and reflections of a clear blue sky.

Restoring the Terra Cotta Facade

The building’s brick and terra cotta facade, parapet, spandrels, and cornice were carefully restored using archived photos and historic resources in collaboration with preservation experts. Graffiti accumulated over years of neglect was meticulously removed, brick joints were re-pointed, and missing terra cotta elements were replicated using glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) and historic molds. Non-original storefronts on the first floor were replaced to honor the building’s historic character.

Wide street view of a restored historic brick building with elaborate terra-cotta ornament, rows of dark-framed windows, and a modern rooftop addition. Pedestrians and a cyclist move along the sidewalk and street in front of the building under a clear blue sky.

Engineering Above a Live BART Line

The building’s location directly adjacent and above the 19th Street BART Station warranted a sensitive seismic strengthening solution. Invisible to the eye, micro piles were added 60′ deep at multiple locations to eliminate added pressure on the BART tunnel. A 12″ thick, heavily-reinforced concrete core (housing restrooms and shafts) that extends the height of the building provides lateral strength and eliminates the need for bulky brace frames at the building perimeter.

Person opening a large sliding glass door to a rooftop terrace, with surrounding Oakland buildings visible beyond the windows.

Open interior of a renovated historic building with exposed concrete columns and ceilings, large street-facing windows, and strong bands of sunlight across the floor.

Sunlit, unfinished office interior with exposed ceiling structure and utilities, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a person walking toward a rooftop terrace.

Flexibility for New Tenants

The project includes 5,000 sf of Broadway-facing retail, 34,000 sf of office space, and a new 5,000 sf, 5th floor penthouse office space featuring a roof deck with views of the nearby Fox and Paramount theaters. Existing interior partitions and ceilings were removed to create an open canvas for incoming tenants, with natural light flooding the floor plates through south and west exposures. Updates include restrooms centralized on all levels, secure bike parking, and adjacent shower facilities.