The architect and builder must not have gone to Sunday School where children sing the song, “The foolish man built his house upon the sand, and his house came tumbling down,” based on the parable of Jesus.
(Interesting that a retired department head at the University of CA can afford luxurious digs like that.)
It appears that the someone chose friction piling over end bearing.
To cut costs?
Near by building use both?
Who and why, made this decision??