An Iconic Music Venue

Freight & Salvage
Berkeley, CA 

The Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse is a beloved Berkeley institution with more than 40 years of history dedicated to promoting public awareness and appreciation of traditional music. Rather than renovating its longtime home, the organization made the bold decision to build a new, purpose-built venue on Addison Street in Downtown Berkeley, a larger and more capable space designed to honor the authenticity of the art form while delivering a significantly elevated music experience for performers and audiences alike.

The Shalleck Collaborative brought its expertise to the systems that shape how music is heard and experienced in the room. Central to our work was integrating a bespoke Meyer Sound audio system, selected for its exceptional acoustic performance and ability to meet the nuanced demands of traditional and folk music. Our design contributions helped shape a venue where the technical infrastructure is seamlessly woven into the space, supporting the Freight & Salvage’s mission to connect audiences with live music in an intimate, authentic setting.

Completion: 2009 
Architect: Marci Wong Donn Logan Architects
Scope: Theatre & AV Consulting
Photo Credit: Sharon Risedorph, Billy Hustace, Hali McGrath
See What’s Playing: The Freight