Stanford University, Committee on Land and Building Development, Records, 1950-1999

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Summary

Title:
Stanford University, Committee on Land and Building Development, records
Dates:
1950-1999
Creators:
Stanford University. Committee on Land and Building Development
Abstract:
The collection primarily contains minutes, with some correspondence and reports. Occasionally the minutes include supporting documents relevant to the business discussed and minutes from the sub-committee on faculty/staff housing are often included. Specific projects covered in these records include the VA hospital, the Palo Alto Hospital, the Pine Hill Subdivision, the fraternity clusters project, additions to the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC), plans for the Cowell Student Health Center, and the Peter Coutts faculty housing project.
Extent:
2.25 Linear Feet (5 boxes)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Stanford University, Committee on Land and Building Development, Records (SC0813). Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection primarily contains minutes, with some correspondence and reports. Occasionally the minutes include supporting documents relevant to the business discussed and minutes from the sub-committee on faculty/staff housing are often included. The records date from 1950 to 1990, but records from the 1960s only cover the years 1963-1966.

In the 1950s the Committee was particularly active in allocating Stanford land for new construction. The major projects undertaken by the committee in this period include the VA hospital, the Palo Alto Hospital and the Pine Hill Subdivision. A reoccurring issue with the committee was the leasing of land, and what the stipulations for payment and accountability would be.

Business before the committee in the 1960s included the fraternity cluster project, additions to the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC), plans for the Cowell Student Health Center, and assigning parcels of land for future sub-divisions.

In the 1970s the committee was especially concerned with providing low/moderate income housing for Stanford faculty and their families. The Peter Coutts Project was the focus of much of their energies. Economic feasibility, house size and ensuring that the elementary schools could support the resident population were just a few of the issues that the committee considered during their deliberations. Another residential area that was developed during this time was Escondido Village. In 1976 the committee reviewed the proposal for the Positron Electron Project, a $78 million dollar project that would expand the already existing Stanford linear accelerator.

The meeting minutes for the later years of the Land and Building Development Committee show that the construction on and around campus slowed dramatically. During the second half of the 1980s the committee was mainly concerned with the upkeep and improvement of existing structures on campus. Parking and adequate lighting along footpaths were the most common improvements undertaken during this period. However, plans for an 8500 square foot child center were passed, as well as a proposal for the Green Earth Sciences Building.

Overall, many of the committee's decisions were concerned with allowing campus growth while maintaining many of principles and ideas that the university was founded upon. For example, in the 1980s the committee designed the Cardinal Plaza, located on the corner of Sam MacDonald and Eucalyptus Roads. It was designed as a place for tailgating, picnics, meetings, and fundraising events. The original plan was defeated by a vote of 3 to 2 because the committee felt that the design, which emphasized extensive brickwork, clashed with the historic "farm" feel of the campus that the committee sought to preserve. Later the plans were redrawn so that the plaza embodied the "farm" feel that Stanford is known for and was approved by the committee.

Biographical / historical:

The Committee on Land and Building Development is responsible for providing input and/or recommendations to the President and other administrative officers on the planning and development of academic campus lands; on basic design guidelines for architecture and landscaping; and planning for transportation services. Committee members include faculty, staff and students representatives.

Physical location:
Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 48 hours in advance. For more information on paging collections, see the department's website: http://library.stanford.edu/spc.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
University Archives staff
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-02-03 10:05:17 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in original format and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.

Terms of access:

While University Archives is the owner of the physical and/or digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Stanford University, Committee on Land and Building Development, Records (SC0813). Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Location of this collection:
Stanford University Archives, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6064, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Website