Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/19/26

Key Takeaways

  • Stanford University has completed a 160,000-square-foot Graduate School of Education complex, developed in partnership with McCarthy Building Companies and launched in 2023.
  • The project combined historic preservation and modernization, including major renovations to the 1938 Angela Nomellini & Ken Oliver Building and the Barnum Center, alongside construction of the new Patricia & Jeffrey Raikes Building.
  • Key priorities included structural innovation, restoration of historic architectural elements, and collaborative design to create a forward-looking academic space that honors the university’s architectural heritage.

Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort. Construction began in 2023.

The new GSE complex contains three buildings: the renovated Angela Nomellini & Ken Oliver Building (ANKO), the renovated Barnum Center, and the new Patricia & Jeffrey Raikes (Raikes) Building, the news release reports. ANKO, which was originally built in 1938, saw serious structural renovations that involved hollowing out the building’s core while maintaining the wings for historical preservation purposes. The building’s original Spanish tiles, windows, and ceiling elements were removed, restored, and replaced.

Restorations to the Barnum Center will allow it to be used as a classroom and event space; the building features 50 historic windows, as well as flexible space for student collaboration.

Finally, the Raikes Building features classrooms, meeting rooms, open offices, and event space. The fourth floor features a “premier convening space” with indoor and outdoor elements that offer scenic views of the campus and surrounding hillside.

“This project was both a challenge and a privilege,” said Jason Hughes, Vice President of Operations with McCarthy. “Working alongside Stanford and our design and construction partners, we were able to preserve the university’s rich architectural history while creating a forward-looking facility that supports the future of graduate education.”

During the project, key design considerations were historic preservation (especially in ANKO); structural innovation regarding the shoring and hollowing techniques used; and collaborative design, which involved extensive partnership with university stakeholders, according to the news release.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • Fellowes Expands Finish and Wall-Covering Options for Architectural Wall Systems

    Fellowes Architectural Solutions has expanded the materials library for its architectural wall systems with a series of new finishes and wall-covering options intended to provide architects and designers with additional choices for commercial interiors, according to a company news release.

  • Barbara Vick Western Branch

    Barbara Vick Western Branch

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Barbara Vick Western Branch has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of Renovation.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.