Goldman School of Public Policy

Its prominent placement along Hearst Avenue establishes a visible and accessible identity for the School and a new entry to the GSPP complex. The building’s architecture is a contemporary complement to the traditional and residential character of the School’s existing campus buildings. Major program elements are dematerialized through liberal use of glass, while the building’s more solid masses, clad in cedar siding and board-formed concrete, respond to the scale and materiality of the surrounding context. Generous use of wood cladding and screening provides the interior spaces with a warmth that recalls the historic campus building, with the further distinction of providing ample daylighting and connection to the outdoor spaces.

The building’s program includes a 250-seat divisible classroom, seminar classrooms, faculty and shared graduate student offices, all centered around a living room. The living room is a three-story atrium overlooking a new outdoor plaza that serves as a central gathering space for the Goldman School. The atrium’s ceiling will be glazed with an integrated photovoltaic array, providing both glare control and energy generation. An elegant stair punctuates the atrium, while a cafe further activates the space. The top level of the building boasts a roof deck with views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.