My problem with Stanford's expansion plans, past and present, is that it is not clear to me how these new buildings are producing more graduates than before. A 4 fold expansion in sq ft has produced no similar rise in graduates. Much, if not most of the expansion has been in research and lab space. That would be great if it were effective. However, the result I have seen so far has been a vastly underutilized set of buildings that are poorly maintained after they are built. I am not at all opposed to expansion once it is clear that we are using what we have fully and wisely.
It would appear to me that lots of the building occurs because many successful people want to donate money to Stanford, and they want their name on it. An endowed chair doesn't have the same flash as a building, and nobody wants to turn down money. So we get another building. It is not really a planned event, it is a target of opportunity. Some of the building was undoubtedly necessary to replace and augment older structures. However, what we have now is all out proportion to what Stanford can use effectively, IMHO.
It would appear to me that lots of the building occurs because many successful people want to donate money to Stanford, and they want their name on it. An endowed chair doesn't have the same flash as a building, and nobody wants to turn down money. So we get another building. It is not really a planned event, it is a target of opportunity. Some of the building was undoubtedly necessary to replace and augment older structures. However, what we have now is all out proportion to what Stanford can use effectively, IMHO.