Santa Clara University

CAMPUS

The University is located on a 106-acre campus in the city of Santa Clara near the southern end of the San Francisco Bay in one of the world’s great cultural centers and in the heart of the Silicon Valley. At the campus center is the Mission Church, restored in 1928 and surrounded by the roses and palm and olive trees of the historic Mission Gardens. The adjacent Adobe Lodge is the oldest building on campus, having been restored in 1981 to its 1822 decor. There are more than 50 buildings on campus housing 15 student residences, a main library and a law library, two student centers, the de Saisset Museum, the Center of Performing Arts, extensive athletic facilities, and a recreation and fitness center. Computer and telecommunications technology is an integral part of the life and learning at Santa Clara University. All residence hall rooms and most classrooms are connected to high-speed Internet access and campus email, and most of the campus is covered by a wireless network.

The Joanne E. Harrington Learning Commons, Sobrato Family Technology Center, and Orradre Library, which opened in 2008, provides facilities for both individual and group study in an inviting, light-filled, and open environment. The building contains both wired and wireless networks throughout the facility, and two third-floor terraces provide outdoor workspaces with a view. At the “Start Here” desk on the first floor, librarians provide assistance in identifying, evaluating, and retrieving information at the library, and Information Technology (IT) staff provide tech support for basic issues and referrals to the IT Service Center on the third floor for more complicated issues. A notable feature of the building is the Automated Retrieval System (ARS), a high-density storage area where up to 900,000 volumes can be stored by size in more than 11,000 bins and retrieved using robotic-assisted technology. The ARS can be viewed by the public from both inside the building (from a second-floor viewing area) and outside the building (from the south side). Other features of the building include the two-level Information Commons; a multimedia lab; several drop-in computer labs; the Saint Clare Room, which can be used for quiet study, small lectures, book events, and other public gatherings; and the third floor gallery, which features a regular schedule of exhibits.

The Robert F. Benson Memorial Center serves as the hub of campus life. The Benson Center is the home for a variety of services for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests of the University and provides an environment for the education of the whole person that continues outside the classroom. The Benson Center offers dining services, houses the campus bookstore and the campus post office, and provides meeting rooms and assistance with event planning. Offices of undergraduate student publications, the Multicultural Center, the Learning Resources Center, and the Writing Center are located in the Benson Center.

The Paul L. Locatelli, S.J., Student Activity Center is home to the student government office, the student programming board, student volunteer service, and the Center for Student Leadership. The first new building in more than 40 years designed specifically with student activities in mind, the Locatelli Student Activity Center includes a 6,000 square-foot gathering hall with a high ceiling that can accommodate dances, concerts, as well as pre- and post-game activities. Designed with environmental sensitivity, the new building is energy efficient and has daytime lighting controls and motion sensors to maximize use of natural light.

The de Saisset Museum on the Santa Clara campus serves as caretaker of the University’s California History Collection, which is on permanent view. The museum presents between six and 12 temporary exhibitions every year that showcase the diversity of art and history, exploring the work of local contemporary artists, providing enriching experiences, and addressing issues of contemporary society. Opportunities are available for undergraduate students to serve as museum docents.

The Center of Performing Arts includes the Louis B. Mayer Theatre, the Fess Parker Studio Theatre, and the Recital Hall. Mayer Theatre is Santa Clara University’s premier theatrical venue, housing 500 intimate seats in either a flexible proscenium or thrust stage setting. The Fess Parker Studio Theatre has no fixed stage or seating and with its black-box design, complete with movable catwalks, provides superb flexibility in an experimental setting. The 250-seat Recital Hall provides a contemporary setting where students, faculty, and guest artists offer a variety of performances.

The Pat Malley Fitness and Recreation Center features a 9,500-square-foot weight training and cardiovascular exercise room, three basketball courts, a swimming pool, and other facilities to support the recreational and fitness needs of the campus community. The University’s intercollegiate athletic teams compete in the Leavey Center, Sullivan Aquatic Center, Stephen Schott Stadium, Buck Shaw Stadium, Degheri Tennis Center, and Marsalli Park.