Branner is an elegant, Mission-style building known for it's vibrant spirit. It houses approximately 166 students - primarily in triples.
For information on the accessibility of residences for both living and visiting, please reference our Undergraduate Residences Accessibility Summary chart.
Branner Hall opened in January 1924, named after John Caspar Branner, Stanford’s first professor, second president (1913-1915), and Chair of the Department of Geology and Mining. The elegant building was designed by the San Francisco firm of Bakewell & Brown, who also designed Memorial Auditorium and the original Bing Wing of Green Library.
The University financed the building’s original $480,000 cost with gate receipts from the then newly-built Stanford Stadium. While conceived for “men who prefer to live as individuals and not in groups,” a nine-month, $20.2 million renovation created many more spaces to encourage the development of communities. Branner has also served as an all-women’s residence before becoming co-ed. The first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, lived in Branner Hall during her freshman year at Stanford.
General Information
| Residence Name | Branner Hall – Map |
| Res Ed Program | N/A |
| Area of Campus | Eastside |
| Neighborhood | Ginkgo |
| Navigation Address | 655 Escondido Road, Stanford, CA 94305 |
| Housing Service Center | Housing Service Center for Ginkgo at Crothers Hall |
| Dining Service | Branner Dining's intimate dining room and beautiful estate-style kitchen and servery greet students five days a week. Seven different food stations offer a variety of cuisine options, and special consideration is paid to vegan and vegetarian diets. During the academic year, Branner residents are required to have a neighborhood dining hall meal plan. During the summer Branner Dining is not open and students will eat at one of two dining halls available for the summer. Branner summer residents eat at the Arrillaga Family Dining Commons. |
| Residence Type | Residence hall |
| Class Configuration | All-frosh |
| Co-ed Type | Mixed-gender by corridor (students of different genders live on the same floor) |
| Custodial Service | University managed |
| Common Areas | Branner has a variety of common areas including a lounge, library, seminar room, and computer cluster. |
Pictures and Floor Plans
Furnishings
| Wall-to-wall carpeting |
| Window coverings |
| High-speed internet access |
| Waste basket and recycling bin |
| Standard twin bed |
| Desk and chair |
| Bookcase |
| Dresser |
| Sink with mirror |
| Mirror |
Note: Students who want to bring their own beds may store the university-supplied bed at their own expense. No storage is available for unneeded furniture. Students provide their own cookware, dishes, utensils, towels and other kitchen items.