The BEAM’s history is about family, friends and the deeply held belief that we are most enlivened when we create and build in community.  In 2024-2025 Vandy (mom, economist & baker), Leo (dad, lawyer & builder) and Truman (son, student & engineer) had many family discussions around their kitchen table about how to live this one precious life.  These talks inspired the decision to go all in together to make a space in Oakland to help unfold people’s creative potential: a center for the generation of local community art and a fabrication engine for the small businesses of resident artists and builders.   We also dreamed to create a real home for community to gather and imagine, learn and grow together.  

Friends welcomed this decision with open arms, offering their ideas, encouragement and support.  And so formed our vibrant multigenerational leadership team (the “BEAM Team”), an experienced and skilled group of artists, engineers, designers, tradesmen and community builders who are invested in manifesting a warm invitation — an offer to work together in community to generate art and projects that benefit the East Bay and to support people’s individual passions to build.   

Finding the space on 1189 65th Street was like a magical strike of lightning for our team.  This beautiful, historic, light-filled Oakland warehouse has brick walls that are brimming with stories — some of which you may be lucky enough to hear if are ever at the space at the same time as Patrick and Susan Sallee (two of its long time owners) and its prior tenant Jim Sullivan (who owned and led Sullivan Countertops for multiple decades from this location).  

The Beam Team has worked together tirelessly to update and enhance this gorgeous building to provide state of the art shop space for metal, wood and light fabrication work as well as magnetic community and gallery space. 

The new story of “the BEAM” will stand on the history of the building, unfolding and evolving within these walls.  The name itself was chosen to invite all form of possibility.  Benchholders who can lean on solid support to build what they dream of.  Radiant smiles of people who are proud of something they have created and made real together.  The brightest of light shining on the art and offerings of our community.  And beaming you UP to a different place — where you can dive in to create, learn, share and connect.