The new Anderson Collection, at rear, by Richard Olcott of Ennead Architects, is part of a growing arts district on the Stanford University campus. At right, the Cantor Arts Center, which has roots in the 19th century. CreditTim Griffith for Ennead Architects

The birthplace of Yahoo and Google, Stanford University is now ramping up and showing off its cultural resources.

Construction of a $235 million arts district near Palm Drive, the grand tree-lined campus entrance, is well underway here. Last year, the $112 million Bing Concert Hall opened. This year came the $36 million Anderson Collection, a new American-art museum designed to showcase paintings by Pollock, Rothko and Diebenkorn. Next up is the $87 million McMurtry Building for the art and art history department, to open in 2015. The first two buildings were designed by Ennead Architects; the McMurtry is by Diller Scofidio & Renfro.

“I think it’s very important, as the university gains in reputation in fields associated with Silicon Valley, that we send the signal that art matters, even to students who go on to work in the valley or business,” said Matthew Tiews, the executive director of art programs at Stanford.....Continue Reading

> via NYT