Existing residence on a down-sloping site prior to excavation and construction of the ADU

Project Team

Architect: Norman D. Hooks, AIA Geotechnical Engineer: Thomas J. Stimac Structural Engineer: Thomas G. Brown General Contractor: Terence Brown Mechanical Contractor: Atlas Heating

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)

El Cerrito, California I 750 SF

Design of a new accessory dwelling unit located beneath an existing single‑family residence on a steeply down‑sloping site. The project required excavation beneath the front of the house and careful coordination of structural and geotechnical systems.

The ADU includes a combined living/sleeping space, kitchen, bathroom, storage, new exterior door, and windows. Exterior improvements include a new concrete patio with sweeping views of San Francisco Bay, a new exterior stair, and guardrails at the existing front porch. Large on‑site boulders encountered during excavation were salvaged and crushed for reuse as aggregate sub‑base material.

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