Look Up, This is the Place We’re In
By Jagriti Agrawal and Jonathan Faubert
When it feels like the only world that exists is the one within me,
I look out my window.
And I see,
There is a world around me.
It’s right there.
It’s right here.
This is the place we’re in.
As we approach graduation and prepare for a new stage in our lives, we would like to share some of our favorite places on campus with you all in the hope that you might be able to experience them with your loved ones when they visit. As you explore the world around us, we encourage you all to look up and realize, this is the place we’re in.
Let’s begin exploring.
First, we begin in the 4th-floor reading room of Bass Library. This is an idealistic indoor place with modern, colorful chairs, couches, and tables to be productive or just to think. You’ll find a balcony all around as well. It is a fantastic place to find some peace within yourself in the midst of a busy Town Square.
Then, as we walk out of the GSB towards JMac and Schwab, we take a right onto Jane Stanford Way. We walk a bit further past the fountain. We turn right again and take some steps up until we come across the rooftop of Lathrop. This is a beautiful place to reflect or work outside. Make sure to bring your fully charged computer to reflect or get some quiet work done.
Right next to this rooftop is also the East Asia Library itself (also called Lathrop Library), which includes rare collections of books from Chinese scholars as well as many convenient work places. Fun fact — the rooftop and this library used to be the original GSB back in the day. You can still find old plaques highlighting this history (map location on the left below as same as for Lathrop rooftop).
Then, we get back onto Jane Stanford Way, and to the left across from the East Asia Library is the giant Hoover Tower. You can book your tickets to go up the tower here and get a beautiful view of campus and the city from the top! They have small maps where you can find the different buildings. On a clear day, you can even see San Francisco on the horizon.
After getting back on Jane Stanford Way, you can take a right past the Oval to reach three iconic museums — the Rodin Sculpture Garden, the Cantor Arts Center, and the Anderson Collection, all next to each other. You can take a peek at the Rodin statues from the garden without needing to go into the museums and you can deeply analyze the giant “YO” sign in front of the Cantor Arts Center.
Additionally, you will find an especially hidden place with a beautiful view and a peaceful aura on the rooftop of the Cantor Arts Center. It can be a bit hard to find, but it is located at the top of the stairs near the back of Cantor which look like the ones below.
Next up is the Cactus Garden where you will find a wide variety of succulents. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Pick your favorite one!
Next, we will head to the Clark Center close to the Medical Center, which has impressive circular architecture. You can also enjoy a cup of Peet’s Coffee there.
As you pass through Clark Center, you will find one of my favorite eateries on campus — Blend Cafe, also called Annette’s Cafe. It’s Filipino fusion food and it’s delicious. I’d recommend ordering online a day in advance to avoid the line! The area around Blend also has some beautiful seating spots to enjoy.
We’re about halfway through! Now, we progress to the other side of campus through the Engineering school and slowly make our way back.
One of my favorite spots on campus is the Terman Fountain. Here you will find the calming sound of water from three fountains along with some benches to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Just across Terman Fountain is another very peaceful location on Santa Teresa Street — the Windhover Mediation Center. You can walk through a meditative walking maze and notice the calming architecture.
Just next to Windhover is the Papua New Guinea Garden. Here you will find plenty of shade and intriguing expressions on the sculptures.
After crossing Lomita Drive across from the Papua New Guinea Gardens, we arrive at my favorite spot on campus to sit, think, and appreciate — Kingscote Gardens. This is a hidden spot that feels sufficiently removed but still connected. You may even find some ducks in the pond to keep you company.
Walking back towards our very own GSB past Tressidor and the bookstore, you will come across the rooftop of the law school. Like the rooftop near the East Asian library, this is a beautiful and peaceful place to work or reflect.
And finally, across from the back of JMac and near Arillaga dining hall, you will find Encina Commons. There are many spaces below the ground here to sit and gather.
If you have a chance, you should also take a pause and venture to the outskirts of campus to have a meal at the Coupa Cafe Golf Course. It is on top of a beautiful grassy hill and golf course and has an elegant ambiance with the Coupa food we all know and love.
To our current and future classmates- thank you for taking this journey, and we hope you are able to enjoy the place that we have called home for the past two years :)
*Special thanks to Anny Dow and Andrew Leon Hanna for their suggestions, as well as many others who have contributed to sharing the gems that exist within this campus.
