STANFORD UNIVERSITY - GREEN EARTH SCIENCES BUILDING
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
As an axial gateway and connecting element of the existing historic campus to the new Near West campus, this major open space is formed by an on-structure, two-level plaza. The granite and quartzite ‘outcrops’, aligned to echo the San Andreas fault line below, subtly form gathering areas of various sizes for outdoor classrooms. The lower and more private courtyard provides light to the surrounding laboratories and offices, and exposes a ‘dry riverbed’ that continues the north/south fault line, while expressing the character of a lower stratum and accommodating gathering places for students, faculty and researchers.