2025 Design + Build

Floating Grove

Project Information

Client: NC State College of Natural Resources

Location: Courtyard between Jordan and Biltmore Hall

Size: 400 Sq Ft

Program: Students were asked to design a mass timber pavilion that accommodates 10–15 people, offering accessibility to the adjacent paved walkway. The pavilion should provide comfortable shelter while showcasing the structural logic and expressive qualities of its connections.

Materials: Standing Seam Metal Roof, UltraProTech REX High Temp Underlayment, CLT Panels, Pressure Treated Glulam Beam, Sheet Metal, Tub Metal, Non Shrink Construction Grout, Concrete Pavers, Downspout Rocks, 3500 PSI Concrete

Students: Alexandra Garcia Jimenez, Arda Unal, Gargi Wadodkar, Jamisen Royal, Jhanvi Shah, Mariah Speedling, Monya Awamleh, Pearson Foster, Sadhana Srinivasan, and Sanchana Bandari

Instructors: Randall Lanou, Erik Mehlman, Ruby Reeves, Adam Ward, and Joel Lubell

Instructional Collaborators: A Ward Architecture, BuildSense and Armature Design

Structural Engineer: Sarah Musser

As part of the ten-week Design Build Studio at NC State University’s College of Design, students collaborated to design and construct a mass timber pavilion situated between Jordan and Biltmore Hall on Central Campus. As an outdoor classroom and accessible gathering space, the pavilion extends the shelter of the existing tree canopy while creating a welcoming environment for students. The final design integrates Cross-Laminated Timber panels with Glulam columns, forming an open, light-filled structure anchored by a centralized gathering space that connects the two halls. Organized on a grid that extends into the paving pattern, the design gradually transitions into more organic forms, responding to the natural context of the site. The pavilion strengthens the relationship between Jordan and Biltmore Hall, offering a shared space that fosters community, learning, and connection.