One of the hall’s key architectural functions is to connect the sprawling tree-studded campus park with the grid of Stanford’s pre-existing architecture, particularly the university’s growing Arts District. Approaching through this wooded setting, concert-goers are greeted by a wide terrace that eases into the grand lobby entrance.
Inside the auditorium, the 844 seats are never more than a mere 23 metres from the conductor, ensuring every performance feels intimate. For crystal-clear sound, lead acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota of Nagata Acoustics designed massive sound-directing sails that trace the contours of the walls and ceiling, and can double as screens for projected video.