Cowell Memorial Hospital, Berkeley
historic place
Cowell Memorial Hospital was a historic building in Berkeley, California, located in Alameda County. The hospital's entrance and south wing were built in 1930, designed in the Neoclassical style by Arthur Brown Jr.. Later additions included an east pavilion in 1954 and a north wing in 1960. From its opening, Cowell Memorial Hospital provided student health care and served the community for medical emergencies. A significant period for the hospital was from 1962 to 1974. During these years, its north wing housed the Cowell Residence Program for disabled students. This program was the first on-campus residence in the nation for severely disabled students. It became known as the birthplace of the Independent Living Movement and the effort to gain civil rights for the disabled. Ed Roberts, a key figure in this movement, referred to Cowell Hospital as "the cradle of the movement". Cowell Memorial Hospital was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 6, 1993, and was also a Berkeley Landmark. The building was demolished in 1993 and replaced by the Haas School of Business. This site is historically important for its role in student health and as a foundational location for the disability rights movement.