University and civic leaders celebrate the opening of Stanford Redwood City

With the first wave of employees settling into new offices in Stanford Redwood City, it was time to celebrate the opening of the first phase of the state-of-the-art campus designed for employees who provide critical support to the university’s academic mission.

About 200 invited guests – members of the Stanford University and Redwood City communities – mingled during a Thursday morning reception held on the plaza outside the first building to open – Cardinal Hall – with a jazz trio providing music.

It was also time to celebrate the exciting partnership between the university leaders, elected officials and community groups that led to the important and historic moment: the creation of Stanford’s first significant footprint outside its main campus.

Redwood City Mayor Ian Bain welcomed attendees – many seated in white folding chairs, still more filling the plaza behind them – and observed that the many past and present city dignitaries in the audience showed the city’s deep commitment to the project.

Bain said the architectural elements of the campus – which were designed to match the newer building on the main campus with their French limestone exteriors, terra cotta design elements and open, well-lighted interiors – exceeded his expectations.

“We welcome Stanford with open arms,” Bain said. “We hope you will embrace our restaurants, our parks, our culture and our night life. I hope you will embrace us as we have embraced you. I hope all of the Stanford employees who work here learn to love Redwood City as much as I do.”

The ceremony also gave Stanford the opportunity to speak directly with its new neighbors.

“We want to be the best neighbors we can possibly be,” said Martin Shell, vice president and chief external relations officer for Stanford.

“And that includes offering the community some wonderful benefits, such as current educational classes in conjunction with our Graduate School of Business Executive Education Program, support for the Redwood City Education Foundation, community events in Courthouse Square and funding for street improvements within the neighborhoods surrounding our new campus. We couldn’t have built this new campus without the close collaboration with the city and community groups. We thank you for your input, advice and support,” Shell said.

Welcome, trailblazers!

In her speech, Provost Persis Drell addressed the 2,700 “trailblazers” who will work at Stanford Redwood City. Some sat and stood in the audience before her, while others watched and listened to the livestream of the ceremony broadcast online.

“The work that you do at Stanford contributes foundationally and fundamentally to our success as an institution,” Drell said. “If you are providing IT services to our faculty, caring for our facilities, managing a departmental office, organizing fundraising activities, managing financial transactions, providing for the safety of the campus or any of the many other varied roles you play as staff, your work is essential to Stanford’s success.”

Go to the web site to view the video.

Drell told the employees who will be moving into Stanford Redwood City that the university is grateful for their input creating the beautiful new campus, their flexibility, their commitment to Stanford’s missions and their many contributions to the university.

President Marc Tessier-Lavigne joined Drell in thanking the employees who will migrating to the new campus.

“As you explore your new home, you’ll see the many ways that our designers and architects have designed this campus to feel like Stanford,” he said. “Of course, what makes Stanford Stanford is not just the feel, it’s the people. It’s every one of you. We would not be the university that we are without your hard work and your talent in supporting every aspect of this university. Your collaboration, your optimism and your flexibility will shape this new campus. You will make this campus Stanford.”

Tessier-Lavigne described Stanford Redwood City as a strategic investment in the university’s future.

“It is central to our plans for how Stanford will tackle the challenges not just of the next decade but of the next century,” he said.

“It allows the university the flexibility to expand our core campus in Santa Clara County as needed for teaching, research and housing,” he said. “At the same time, it gives us one integrated, accessible and convenient site to scale the critical support functions that are necessary for Stanford’s academic and research missions to succeed.”

The gathering concluded with a ribbon cutting, with scissors simultaneously wielded by Provost Drell, President Tessier-Lavigne, Mayor Bain and Vice Mayor Diane Howard.

A vibrant new workplace taking shape

In addition to Cardinal Hall, the Stanford Recreation & Wellness Center for Stanford affiliates, which has a rooftop swimming pool, has opened its doors. The Cardinal Café –located on the first floor of Cardinal Hall and open to the public – is already serving coffee, tea and pastries, and offering a to-go menu, including sushi, poke bowls, sandwiches, salads and desserts. The spacious dining pavilion located next to the café offers indoor and outdoor seating.

This week, 70 Business Affairs employees began moving into Cardinal Hall. Next week, 130 employees working in University Human Resources will join them.

Construction continues on three other office buildings – University Hall, Discovery Hall and Academy Hall – that are expected to open in coming months. Work also continues on the Pine Cone Children’s Center, a child care facility slated to open in the fall.

For detailed information about every aspect of the new campus for the Stanford and Redwood City communities, including transportation, events and campus amenities, visit the website: Stanford Redwood City.