To reinforce Stanford’s competitive edge in research and teaching, Bora’s master plan and subsequent design of the Science and Engineering Quad (SEQ) established an interdisciplinary hub to elevate its School of Engineering. The effort brought together disciplines formerly scattered across campus through shared collaborative spaces to promote community and unique synergies in support of research innovation.

Four interconnected buildings provide 600,000 square feet of flexible teaching, research, office and social spaces on an 8.5-acre site between the Main Quad and the School of Medicine. With particular attention to the design of the spaces in between the buildings, we sought to facilitate intersectional innovation not only across disciplines within the Engineering Quad, but across the broader Stanford campus. Rigorous sustainability criteria fueled a campus-wide initiative for sustainable development—one of the most aggressive in the country and a precedent for other campuses.

The final Quad landscape and architecture, referencing the beloved Stanford vernacular while accommodating modern uses for the future, add a new layer of identity to this prestigious institution.