S4 began to take shape in 2002 as scholars in several different social science disciplines recognized the need to develop a stronger spatial analysis capacity at Brown University. Through their efforts, the Population Studies and Training Center and Department of Sociology were able to recruit a new Assistant Professor (Research) to coordinate Geographic Information Systems software and hardware, offer training for undergraduate and graduate students, and consult with faculty on spatial analysis aspects of their research. Dr. Naresh Kumar accepted this position in Fall 2002.

When the University announced its Plan for Academic Enrichment under the leadership of President Ruth Simmons and Provost Robert Zimmer, a more formal steering committee was created to prepare a proposal for long-term development in this area. The group has included scholars who at that time were chairs of several departments (Andrew Foster, Economics; Vernon Henderson, Urban Studies; Vincent Mor, Community Health; Michael White, Sociology; Alan Zuckerman, Political Science) and directors of two major research centers (Mark Pitt, Population Studies and Training Center; Darrell West, Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions). They proposed several new faculty appointments, recruitment of a director, a series of workshops and seminars, creation of a GIS lab, and support for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in relevant disciplines.

This initiative was formally approved in 2003 by Brown's Academic Priorities Committee under the S4 name: Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences.

In spring 2004, S4 announced the appointment of John Logan, a sociologist and formerly Director of the Lewis Mumford Center for Comparative Urban and Regional Research, University at Albany, as its first Director. The growing S4 staff has been provided newly renovated space in Maxcy Hall in the center of the Brown campus. S4 has also been designated as the Spatial Analysis Core for the Population Studies and Training Center, and this institutional connection has proved valuable for both programs.

S4 now counts 35 faculty affiliates from departments across the campus, not only in social sciences. In addition the S4 Fellows Program includes a growing number of graduate students who have gained the skills to incorporate spatial thinking and tools in their research.