Lurie Hoping to Attract Vanderbilt University to City

One of the nation’s most prestigious private universities could be setting up shop in San Francisco.

Vanderbilt University is in talks to expand its presence from Nashville, Tennessee, with an outpost in San Francisco, a spokesperson for the university confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle. The school is purportedly working with Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office to make the dream a reality.

“We recognize the long-term global leadership of San Francisco and its ever-growing potential, defined by a vibrant culture, dynamic innovation ecosystem and the talent drawn to its leading technology companies and top-caliber arts and cultural institutions,” the spokesperson told the Chronicle. “We aim to create unique student experiences, fuel pathbreaking research and foster close connections to the ideas and companies that will lead the next generation of the nation’s economy.”

Details around the project, such as location, construction scope, academic programming and whether new student housing would be involved, remain light. Lurie is hopeful that Vanderbilt’s entry into San Francisco’s urban core could play a key part in the city’s post-pandemic revitalization.

“Our administration is working every day to create a clean, safe and thriving downtown — one that draws people, businesses and investments back to our city,” Lurie told the Chronicle. “Welcoming a world-class university like Vanderbilt to our city would bring new energy and foot traffic downtown, and we will continue working to make that happen.”

While not much is known at the moment about the endeavor, the Chronicle confirmed that Lurie himself has met twice with Vanderbilt leadership, as has Ned Segal, the city’s chief of housing and economic development.

This wouldn’t be the first time a university satellite has been proposed for downtown San Francisco.

Last year, former Mayor London Breed announced intentions to build a historically Black college and university satellite campus in the city center. It was part of Breed’s 30 by 30 initiative, which aimed to attract 30,000 students and residents to downtown by 2030.

In 2023, Breed also asked the University of California Board of Regents to consider opening a new campus. That proposal’s status remains unclear.

The University of California isn’t opposed to growing its presence in the Bay Area, however; in May, UC agreed to acquire nearly 100 acres of land from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont with the possibility of future development.

— Chris Malone Méndez