South SFV Today

The "Portal & Piazza" project at Stanford University is a new initiative under the Town Center program, featuring a custom-fabricated shipping container equipped with immersive audio and visual technology. This project, developed by the Office of Community Engagement (OCE) in collaboration with Shared Studios, aims to serve as a versatile gathering space for classes, performances, and events on campus.

Jordan Gray, OCE's director of community engagement, highlighted the potential uses of this unique space: “There are so many ways our campus community members could use this unique space. It’s been a great resource for creating connections on and beyond campus.”

The container can be used in two distinct modes. In "portal" mode, it allows up to 10 users to engage in real-time conversations with individuals in similar containers located around the world, including Rwanda, Brazil, South Africa, and Mexico City. The floor-to-ceiling screens create an immersive experience where participants appear life-size.

In "piazza" mode, the container's side wall opens to transform into an indoor/outdoor venue suitable for small-scale events accommodating approximately 50 people. Events such as book talks and mini concerts have already taken place here. For instance, DJ Society performed during last month's Reunion Homecoming.

Tomás R. Jiménez from Stanford Institute for Advancing Just Societies recently utilized the portal for a faculty talk connecting students with refugees in Uganda. He noted that such interactions provide deeper insights than traditional methods: “So much of what we do in the classroom requires some imagination and opportunities to get close to the issues we’re studying can be few and far between,” he said.

Jiménez emphasized that the enclosed nature of the shipping container enhances focus during these exchanges: “Because it’s in an enclosed shipping container, you’re really focused on the people on the other side of the screen."

Upcoming events include a discussion hosted by Guilherme Lichand from Stanford's Graduate School of Education on Nov. 20 titled “Global Dialogues: Transforming Lives in Brazil’s Favelas.” Another event scheduled for Nov. 21 will connect campus members with artists and entrepreneurs from Makers Valley in Johannesburg.

For more information about upcoming activities or using the space, interested parties are encouraged to visit the Portal & Piazza page on Stanford's Town Center website or contact Jordan Gray directly.