Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center

Graduates who come back to Stanford need somewhere to land. Since the early 2000s that place has been the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, a three-story building at the corner of Campus Drive and Galvez Street. Its first floor works like a clubhouse, with a living room, a library of alumni books, gardens, a cafe, a quiet workspace and a stable of loaner bikes. The floors above hold offices for the people who run alumni and fundraising programs.

For most Palo Alto visitors the building matters in two ways. Alumni and their guests can use it as a base for a day on campus. Everyone else is likely to end up there for a lecture, reception or reunion event. This page covers both.

How the building came about

The site at Campus Drive and Galvez Street once held the Band Shak, the old home of the Stanford Band. Stanford Magazine reported that the new alumni center cost $37 million, with donors covering about 90 percent. The lead donor was the developer John Arrillaga, a Stanford graduate whose gifts paid for many campus buildings.

The Stanford Alumni Association dates the building to 2000. Stanford Magazine announced its grand opening for Saturday, October 13, 2001, during Reunion Homecoming weekend. At the time about 30,000 square feet on the first floor were set aside for graduates and the two upper floors housed about 300 staff from the Alumni Association and the Office of Development.

Who Frances Arrillaga was

The building is named for Frances C. Arrillaga, John Arrillaga's late wife. She earned master's degrees from Stanford in 1964 and 1965 and served on the Alumni Association's board of directors. She advised the Travel/Study program, Stanford Sierra Camp and STANFORD magazine and was active in several Bay Area community groups. The association notes that the building was a gift from her family, including her husband and their two children, both Stanford graduates, along with many other alumni.

The main spaces

The Alumni Association describes the center as a home away from home on campus. Its public-facing rooms are on the ground floor.

• The Dwight Family Living Room. A lounge with a limestone fireplace, a Steinway grand piano, couches and floor-to-ceiling windows.
• The Bing Library. A quiet corner of the business center with books by alumni authors, historic Stanford texts, newspapers and campus publications.
• Ford Alumni Gardens. Outdoor gardens with the Franklin Fountain and Reflecting Pool, plus the Palm Court, a courtyard with a stone terrace.
• Event halls. Stanford Magazine's 2001 description included a ballroom and several conference rooms. McCaw Hall in the center appears as a venue for Stanford Law School events.

What alumni can use

Graduates get the most out of the building. The Alumni Center page lists these services and hours, as published in October 2026:

A few rules are worth knowing. Conference room reservations are confirmed only by email. Food and drink are not allowed in the private rooms. Users must start packing up by 4:50 p.m. on weekdays. For questions about the business center the association lists an email contact on its page.

The bike program is the best perk for a returning graduate. Campus is large and parking is paid, so leaving the car and riding to the Main Quad, the Dish trailhead or the arts district saves time. Our biking guide covers routes beyond campus.

The Windhover card is another useful extra. The Windhover Contemplative Center on Santa Teresa Street is limited to Stanford ID holders inside, but alumni can pick up an access card here.

A weekday on campus from the center

For a graduate back in town with a free weekday, the center makes a good base. One way to spend it:

1. Morning. Check in at the front desk when the bicycle program opens at 8:30 a.m. and borrow bikes for yourself and a guest.
2. Mid-morning. Ride to the Cantor Arts Center and the Rodin garden. The museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so plan a Monday, Thursday or Friday.
3. Lunch. Head back to COHO Cafe before it closes, at 3 p.m. most days and 2 p.m. on Fridays.
4. Afternoon. Book a conference room for a call or read in the living room, then return the bikes before 4:30 p.m.

Bike returns and room bookings follow the front desk's weekday hours, so this plan does not work on weekends.

Events at the center

The building is busiest during the big alumni weekends. Reunion Homecoming each October brings class gatherings, talks and receptions to the gardens and halls. Commencement weekend in June also draws families to the area. Our commencement guide explains how that weekend works.

University departments and alumni groups also use the event spaces for lectures, conferences and dinners. If you are invited to something at the Alumni Center, check whether parking is included and allow time to find a space, especially on weekdays.

If you are not an alumnus

The center's services are built for graduates, so a casual visitor has less reason to stop. Still, the location makes it handy. The Stanford Visitor Center at 295 Galvez Street is a short walk away and is the place to pick up maps and ask about tours. For a coffee or snack nearby, our guide to dining on campus lists other options.

If you are planning a trip with a Stanford graduate, their alumni status opens a few doors. They can borrow a bike for you, book a quiet room for a call and show you the living room and gardens.

Getting there and parking

The center is on the east side of campus near the stadium. From the Palo Alto Caltrain station, ride the free Marguerite shuttle on weekdays or walk about 25 minutes. Drivers pay for visitor parking by zone through ParkMobile. Our Stanford parking and transit guide explains how it works and when it is free.

Reunion and graduation weekends fill local hotels fast. If you are coming back for one, book early. Our guide to staying near Stanford lists hotels within an easy ride.

Frequently asked questions