The Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre will launch The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work. An R&D facility for artists, this project aims to extend Berkeley Rep’s success at launching new shows while enhancing and expanding the process by which it makes theatre. The Ground Floor is part of an initiative that is transforming vacant buildings in West Berkeley into a vibrant campus where local and international artists from diverse disciplines can collaborate. By championing the spirit of innovation inherent to the Bay Area, Berkeley Rep seeks to strengthen the community by bringing jobs to West Berkeley, attracting energetic new businesses, drawing visitors to the area and increasing neighborhood vitality.