Student organizations looking for spaces to meet, study or host game nights have three new options this fall: a lounge for Greek life on Lomita Drive, a suite in Tresidder Memorial Union and an outdoor courtyard at Old Union.
The Lodge, located at 672 Lomita Drive, will serve fraternities and sororities that don’t have a house of their own. Chapters can book The Lodge for meetings, fundraisers, social gatherings, alumni talks and study halls through the Fraternity and Sorority Life Office.
The second-floor office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs, located in Tresidder Suite 4, has also been turned into a shared space. The suite operates as a drop-in lounge from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is available until 2 a.m. for social events. The suite contains a kitchen, large tables and seating and opens onto a patio with tables and umbrellas. Student groups interested in booking can reserve the area through the event booking system in Tresidder.
The third space, the Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) Courtyard, sits right outside the ASSU Office in Old Union. Groups can use tables, chairs and canopies for free by reserving them through the ASSU website.
“I think it’s great that we are building more locations for VSOs [Voluntary Student Organizations] and other student organizations, for Greek life and for ASSU,” Diego Medina-Gutierrez ’29, an ASSU undergraduate senator, said. “Having those gathering spaces is incredibly important.”
On Sept. 25, students toured the spaces at an open house with music, food and drinks from On Call Cafe.
The opening of these areas comes as Stanford continues with the Campus Center Project. The project received the first of several approvals needed for construction this spring and is expected to conclude by the 2029-2030 academic year. Its first phase will repurpose the bookstore and post office buildings with open areas named the Commons, made for socialization and events. The project will also add a new Student Barn with two multi-use rooms for students to reserve.
Sophia Tabibian ’30, an organizing member of Stanford Climate Week, says she is excited for the changes.
“I believe the Campus Center Project will be critical to expanding our scope of event venues and ecosystems for connection,” Tabibian said.
Seeing the bookstore change will “definitely be interesting,” as Medina-Gutierrez put it. Much of the foot traffic in that area comes from tourists, and he said he is not sure how much students engage with the bookstore.
That said, some students are worried about disruption to student life, according to Ashton Dolce ’29, another ASSU undergraduate senator. The main feedback he has heard from students is about construction’s impact on bike safety and students gathering in White Plaza.
Dolce said the redesign should ensure that bikes aren’t rerouted in ways that cause accidents during construction.
“I appreciate that the University actually had students on the advisory board that came up with this plan,” he said. “I think that’s a great step and a good direction.”