diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 111dcc3..02f0ef6 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ install_requires =
     pillow>=11.0
     requests
 
-
 [options.packages.find]
 where = src
 exclude =
@@ -66,6 +65,9 @@ exclude =
 # Add here additional requirements for extra features, to install with:
 # `pip install SpatialExperiment[PDF]` like:
 # PDF = ReportLab; RXP
+extra =
+    spatialdata
+    anndata
 
 # Add here test requirements (semicolon/line-separated)
 testing =
diff --git a/src/spatialexperiment/SpatialExperiment.py b/src/spatialexperiment/SpatialExperiment.py
index facd646..a49cab6 100644
--- a/src/spatialexperiment/SpatialExperiment.py
+++ b/src/spatialexperiment/SpatialExperiment.py
@@ -861,6 +861,109 @@ def mirror_img(self, sample_id=None, image_id=None, axis=("h", "v")):
     def to_spatial_experiment():
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
+    ################################
+    ####>> SpatialData interop <<###
+    ################################
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_spatialdata(cls, input: "spatialdata.SpatialData", points_key: str = "") -> "SpatialExperiment":
+        """Create a ``SpatialExperiment`` from :py:class:`~spatialdata.SpatialData`.
+
+        When building ``SpatialExperiment``'s `img_data`, if the image is stored as a :py:class:`~xarray.DataArray`, the corresponding key will be used as the `sample_id`, `DataArray.name` will be used for the `image_id`, and `DataArray.attrs['scale_factor']` for the `scale_factor`.
+        
+        For when the images are stored as a :py:class:`~xarray.DataTree`, see :py:func:`~spatialdata._sdatautils.build_img_data` for details.
+
+        **NOTE**: This is a lossy conversion. The resulting ``SpatialExperiment`` only preserves a subset of the data from the incoming `SpatialData` object.
+
+         Args:
+            input:
+                Input data.
+            points_key:
+                The key corresponding to the DataFrame that should be used for constructing spatial coordinates. Defaults to the first entry.
+
+        Returns:
+            A ``SpatialExperiment`` object.
+        """
+        from spatialdata import SpatialData
+        from xarray import DataArray, DataTree
+        from ._sdatautils import build_img_data
+
+        if not isinstance(input, SpatialData):
+            raise TypeError("Input must be a `SpatialData` object.")
+
+        # validate that the incoming SpatialData can be converted to a SpatialExperiment
+        points = input.points
+        if points_key:
+            points_elem = points[points_key]
+        else:
+            points_elem = next(iter(points.values()))
+
+        adata = input.table
+        if adata.shape[0] != len(points_elem):
+            raise ValueError("Table and Points must have the same number of observations.")
+        
+        sce = super().from_anndata(adata)
+
+        # build spatial coordinates
+        coords_2d = {'x', 'y'}
+        coords_3d = {'x', 'y', 'z'}
+
+        points_cols = set(points_elem.columns)
+        if coords_3d.issubset(points_cols):
+            coords_cols = list(coords_3d)
+        elif coords_2d.issubset(points_cols):
+            coords_cols = list(coords_2d)
+        else:
+            coords_cols = []
+
+        if coords_cols:
+            spatial_coords = points_elem[coords_cols].compute()
+            spatial_coords = BiocFrame.from_pandas(spatial_coords)
+
+        # build image data
+        images = input.images
+        img_data = BiocFrame(
+            {
+                "sample_id": [],
+                "image_id": [],
+                "data": [],
+                "scale_factor": []
+            }
+        )
+        for name, image in images.items():
+            if isinstance(image, DataArray):
+                curr_img = construct_spatial_image_class(np.array(image))
+                curr_scale_factor = [image.attrs["scale_factor"]] if "scale_factor" in image.attrs else [np.nan]
+                curr_img_data = BiocFrame({
+                    "sample_id": [name],
+                    "image_id": [image.name],
+                    "data": [curr_img],
+                    "scale_factor": curr_scale_factor
+                })
+            elif isinstance(image, DataTree):
+                curr_img_data = build_img_data(image, name)
+            else:
+                raise TypeError(f"Cannot build image data from {type(image)}")
+
+            img_data = img_data.combine_rows(curr_img_data)
+
+        return cls(
+            assays=sce.assays,
+            row_ranges=sce.row_ranges,
+            row_data=sce.row_data,
+            column_data=sce.col_data,
+            row_names=sce.row_names,
+            column_names=sce.column_names,
+            metadata=sce.metadata,
+            reduced_dims=sce.reduced_dims,
+            main_experiment_name=sce.main_experiment_name,
+            alternative_experiments=sce.alternative_experiments,
+            row_pairs=sce.row_pairs,
+            column_pairs=sce.column_pairs,
+            spatial_coords=spatial_coords,
+            img_data=img_data
+        )
+
     ################################
     #######>> combine ops <<########
     ################################
diff --git a/src/spatialexperiment/_sdatautils.py b/src/spatialexperiment/_sdatautils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36b84c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/spatialexperiment/_sdatautils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+import numpy as np
+from biocframe import BiocFrame
+from xarray import DataArray, DataTree, Variable
+
+from .SpatialImage import construct_spatial_image_class
+
+
+def process_dataset_images(dt: DataTree, root_name: str) -> BiocFrame:
+    """Processes image-related attributes from a :py:class:`~xarray.DataTree` object and compiles them into a :py:class:`~biocframe.BiocFrame`. The resulting BiocFrame adheres to the standards required for a ``SpatialExperiment``'s `img_data`.
+
+    Args:
+        dt: A DataTree object containing datasets with image data.
+        root_name: An identifier for the highest ancestor of the DataTree to which this subtree belongs.
+
+    Returns:
+        A BiocFrame that conforms to the standards of a ``SpatialExperiment``'s `img_data`.
+    """
+    img_data = BiocFrame(
+        {
+            "sample_id": [],
+            "image_id": [],
+            "data": [],
+            "scale_factor": []
+        }
+    )
+    for var_name, obj in dt.dataset.items():
+        if isinstance(obj, (DataArray, Variable)):
+            var = obj
+        else:
+            dims, data, *optional = obj
+            attrs = optional[0] if optional else None
+            var = Variable(dims=dims, data=data, attrs=attrs)
+
+        scale_factor = var.attrs.get("scale_factor", np.nan)
+        spi = construct_spatial_image_class(np.array(var))
+        img_row = BiocFrame(
+            {
+                "sample_id": [f"{root_name}::{dt.name}"],
+                "image_id": [var_name],
+                "data": [spi],
+                "scale_factor": [scale_factor]
+            }
+        )
+        img_data = img_data.combine_rows(img_row)
+
+    return img_data        
+
+
+def build_img_data(dt: DataTree, root_name: str):
+    """Recursively compiles image data from a :py:class:`~xarray.DataTree` into a :py:class:`~biocframe.BiocFrame.BiocFrame` structure.
+
+    This function traverses a `DataTree`, extracting image-related attributes from each dataset and compiling them into a `BiocFrame`. It processes the parent dataset and recursively handles dataset(s) from child nodes. The resulting `BiocFrame` adheres to the standards required for a ``SpatialExperiment``'s `img_data`.
+
+    The following conditions are assumed:
+    - `DataTree.name` will be used as the `sample_id`.
+    - The keys of `dt.dataset.data_vars` will be used as the `image_id`'s of each image.
+    - The `scale_factor` is extracted from the attributes of the objects in `dt.dataset.data_vars`.
+
+    Args:
+        dt: A DataTree object containing datasets with image data.
+        root_name: An identifier for the highest ancestor of the DataTree to which this subtree belongs.
+
+    Returns:
+        A BiocFrame containing compiled image data for the entire DataTree.
+    """
+    if len(dt.children) == 0:
+        return process_dataset_images(dt, root_name)
+
+    parent_img_data = process_dataset_images(dt, root_name)
+
+    for key, child in dt.children.items():
+        child_img_data = build_img_data(child, root_name)
+        parent_img_data = parent_img_data.combine_rows(child_img_data)
+
+    return parent_img_data
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 0123424..46ce1b0 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 import pytest
+from random import random
 import numpy as np
 from biocframe import BiocFrame
+import anndata as ad
+import spatialdata as sd
 from spatialexperiment import SpatialExperiment, construct_spatial_image_class
-from random import random
+from spatialdata.models import Image2DModel, PointsModel
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -70,3 +73,40 @@ def spe():
     )
 
     return spe_instance
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def sdata():
+    img = np.random.randint(0, 256, size=(50, 50, 3), dtype=np.uint8)
+    img = Image2DModel.parse(data=img)
+    img.name = "image01"
+    img.attrs['scale_factor'] = 1
+
+    num_cols = 25
+    x_coords = np.random.uniform(low=0.0, high=100.0, size=num_cols)
+    y_coords = np.random.uniform(low=0.0, high=100.0, size=num_cols)
+    stacked_coords = np.column_stack((x_coords, y_coords))
+    points = PointsModel.parse(stacked_coords)
+
+    n_vars = 10
+    X = np.random.random((num_cols, n_vars))
+    adata = ad.AnnData(X=X)
+
+    sdata = sd.SpatialData(
+        images={"sample01": img},
+        points={"coords": points},
+        tables=adata
+    )
+
+    return sdata
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def sdata_tree():
+    img_1 = np.random.randint(0, 256, size=(50, 50, 3), dtype=np.uint8)
+    img_1 = Image2DModel.parse(data=img_1)
+    img_1.name = "image01"
+    
+    img_2 = np.random.randint(0, 256, size=(50, 50, 3), dtype=np.uint8)
+    img_2 = Image2DModel.parse(data=img_2)
+    img_2.name = "image02"
diff --git a/tests/test_sdata_interop.py b/tests/test_sdata_interop.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d34755c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_sdata_interop.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import pytest
+from spatialexperiment import SpatialExperiment
+
+def test_from_sdata(sdata):
+    spe = SpatialExperiment.from_spatialdata(sdata)
+
+    assert isinstance(spe, SpatialExperiment)
+
+    table = sdata['table']
+    assert spe.shape == (table.shape[1], table.shape[0])
+
+    sdata_points = next(iter(sdata.points.values()))
+    assert spe.spatial_coords.shape == (len(sdata_points), sdata_points.shape[1])
+    assert sorted(spe.spatial_coords.columns.as_list()) == sorted(['x','y'])
+
+    assert spe.img_data.shape == (1, 4)
+    assert spe.img_data["sample_id"] == ["sample01"]
+    assert spe.img_data["image_id"] == ["image01"]
+    assert spe.img_data["scale_factor"] == [1]
+
+
+def test_invalid_input():
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        SpatialExperiment.from_spatialdata("Not a SpatialData object!")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 69f8159..32d9620 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ passenv =
     SETUPTOOLS_*
 extras =
     testing
+    extra
 commands =
     pytest {posargs}