In 1989, Uptown Station in Oakland, Calif., sustained significant damage and was labeled a condemned property due to the Loma Prieta earthquake. To prevent future damage, the historic station underwent a seismic refit in 1990. While the refit made the building more secure for future natural disasters, it buried and destroyed significant details and characteristics of the historic building. Fast forward to 2016, Uptown Station was gutted, renovated, and expanded into a multi-use hub in the center of downtown Oakland. As architect of record, MBH Architects created a new Uptown Station that includes parking, retail, restaurants, office space, and a multi-tier rooftop park. MBH restored as many historical features as possible and created several elements in the lobby that document the history of the building. The public paseo on the ground floor was inspired by the art deco design—an aesthetic popular when the building was constructed. Keeping the character of the building, most of the original concrete structure was left exposed, as was the structural steel added for the retrofit giving the space an industrial look. The design team paired original elements with oak paneling, Venetian plaster, and large windows to bring in light and create layers of interior spaces. On the office floors, circulation and break spaces surround the floor-to-ceiling atrium glazing. To ensure safety following the 1989 earthquake damage, the design team completed extensive brick repairs and reinforcements. Any removed brick from the original station was salvaged and used to blend the repairs with the existing brick. (Photography Courtesy of Tyler Chartier Photography)