The Knight Building plays a critical role on the Stanford University campus. Housing deans and emeritus faculty, the facility is situated between two existing buildings that belong to the Graduate School of Business (GSB). The area master plan reconciles the architecture of the neighboring buildings and creates a plaza that gives the GSB a sense of place.

The exterior reinterprets the conventions of the Spanish-style campus architecture in a crisp, modern manner. The Knight Building’s arcade runs along the plaza, providing pedestrian circulation. The strong vertical rhythm and layering of the facades further tie the new building to its neighbors while also referring to its structural grid.

SOM designed the interiors to provide opportunities for students and faculty to interact. An open stair and double-height reception area facilitate these encounters while bringing natural light into the building. The cantilevered, glazed circulation spine introduces natural light to the building’s north end. Glass bridges provide direct circulation to the Littlefield Building to the south.