CAW Architects continues its ongoing relationship with Stanford University with the recently completed Doerr School of Sustainability Accelerator program, launched to fast-track research into real-world solutions for urgent sustainability challenges.

The available facility for the Accelerator program was the campus’s former publishing warehouse—an uninspiring concrete structure with minimal daylight, poor insulation, and a fragmented layout from years of ad hoc conversions. The space lacked the flexible, collaborative environment required to support interdisciplinary teams from across the university, as well as the welcoming atmosphere needed to host external partners like policymakers, industry experts, and investors.

To address these challenges, CAW Architects transformed the warehouse into a light-filled collaboration hub, a vibrant center for innovation and teamwork. The team introduced large north-facing skylights to bring sunlight into the core of the building, avoiding costly seismic upgrades while creating a healthier, more inviting space. The interior was reimagined with flexible work lounges, glass-walled conference rooms, and dedicated office areas for faculty, program teams, and staff. At the entrance, a hospitality-focused zone was created to receive guests and foster connections, while additional amenities like a communal break room and informal gathering areas support both focused work and spontaneous collaboration.

Today, the Doerr School of Sustainability benefits from a purpose-built hub that accelerates the impact of its research and programs. The new space enables faculty, students, and external partners from diverse disciplines to work together seamlessly on complex sustainability issues. Furthermore, the light-filled collaboration hub stands as a transformative model for sustainable building and a catalyst for Stanford’s leadership in solving the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges.

Team:

Architecture + Interiors: CAW Architects

Photographer: Marco Zecchin