Courses

What are the stories behind the architecture you see across Stanford's campus? Does Stanford’s campus feel architecturally cohesive? Through presentations, walking tours, and lively discussions, this course will trace the historical development of the Stanford campus and its distinctive architecture.

We will begin by comparing Stanford with other college campuses to understand how architecture and landscape work together to create a campus. Our discussion will focus on architecture’s role in creating a sense of place. Then we will tour some specific examples of campus designs at Stanford built in traditional and contemporary architectural languages to explore not only the organizing framework but also the transition in materials and styles over the decades. During the tour, we will learn more about the rich history and experience the balanced architectural contrast by comparing traditional iconic buildings like Memorial Church, Main Quad, Cantor Arts Center, and Hoover Tower with more contemporary buildings, such as the McMurtry Building and Bing Concert Hall. As we compare and contrast, we will debate: How does architecture contribute to making a campus community? We will conclude with a philosophical discussion on the contribution of planning principles, architectural styles, cohesive materials palettes, and appropriate scale in maintaining continuity across time and place as a campus continues to grow and evolve.