{"id":29133,"date":"2026-01-15T15:18:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T20:18:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/2026\/01\/15\/the-floating-grove-inside-nc-states-first-mass-timber-pavilion\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T23:51:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T03:51:40","slug":"the-floating-grove-inside-nc-states-first-mass-timber-pavilion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/2026\/01\/15\/the-floating-grove-inside-nc-states-first-mass-timber-pavilion\/","title":{"rendered":"The Floating Grove: Inside NC State\u2019s First Mass Timber Pavilion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

This summer, the School of Architecture\u2019s Design + Build program unveiled its latest construction. The Floating Grove, an open-air pavilion, sits nestled between Biltmore Hall and Jordan Hall at the College of Natural Resources (CNR), and claims the title of the university\u2019s first mass timber structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What began nearly two years ago as a concept for a bus shelter evolved into a full-fledged pavilion: a work-in-progress that became a permanent gathering space where community and nature intersect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Materials, Place and Student Vision<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For Graduate Architecture Student Arda Unal, the project marks a full-circle moment. After starting his NC State journey as an undergraduate in the College of Natural Resources, he saw the Design + Build studio as a rare chance to contribute something lasting to a campus that\u2019s shaped his academic path since 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"students
Students and instructors collaborating in the School of Architecture’s Design + Build Studio.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat excited me most was the opportunity to work hands-on with an emerging building material,\u201d he said. \u201cGetting to design and build a structure that will live on this campus in an area I used to frequent felt incredibly meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That hands-on focus resonated just as strongly for Sadhana Srinivasan, who came to NC State as a transfer student and was eager to gain real-world experience beyond the traditional studio environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing able to work with mass timber was an exciting opportunity,\u201d Srinivasan said. \u201cIt\u2019s a material that\u2019s being researched more and more, especially in relation to sustainability. Knowing this project would directly impact a campus I\u2019ve grown to love made it even more meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early design work focused heavily on how the pavilion would meet the ground, connect to existing paths and preserve the site\u2019s mature trees. Students explored how to keep the space open for visibility while still feeling intimate enough for classes, small gatherings or quiet study. Students carefully considered how people would move between Jordan and Biltmore Halls, using the pavilion as both a connector and a place to pause<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessibility, safety and visibility were central to those conversations. \u201cWe wanted the space to feel open and inviting, but also comfortable and secure for everyone using it,\u201d Srinivasan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the key attributes of the construction was the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT), a strong, prefabricated engineered wood product made from layers of solid lumber glued together with perpendicular grain. A major priority was showcasing mass timber honestly, letting CLT panels and regional lumber do the structural and aesthetic heavy lifting. \u201cWe kept returning to simplicity,\u201d Unal said. \u201cA design that allowed the mass timber to be the focus and speak for itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Challenge of Building at Full Scale<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Floating Grove was created in just eleven weeks, pushing the team to figure out not only the design details but the realities of material acquisition as well.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n \n
\n \n\n
\"students
Students fabricated custom metal fixtures for the Floating Grove in the College of Design’s Materials Lab.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Close-up
Close-up of the custom metal fixtures used on the Floating Grove used to connect CLT panels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the biggest challenges was finding manufacturers who could work with our accelerated schedule,\u201d Unal said. \u201cWe had to do a lot of explaining, a lot of calling and a lot of persuading. But we eventually found partners who believed in what we were doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Material constraints also shaped the design. Srinivasan noted that the CLT panels available for the project were limited to 4-foot-by-8-foot dimensions, a restriction that directly influenced how the panels were organized and how glulam beams were integrated into the structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their persistence paid off, resulting in a broad network of collaborators from timber suppliers to hardware manufacturers, mixing alumni connections, industry partners and local craftspeople who helped the students bring the pavilion to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat constraint ended up shaping the pavilion you see today,\u201d Srinivasan said. \u201cIt forced us to think carefully about efficiency, structure and how each element worked together.\u201d Weather added another layer of complexity near the end of construction, but steady collaboration across students, faculty, professionals and vendors kept the project moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“A skill I will forever cherish from this experience is the importance of collaboration, communication and the relationships you build doing the work,” she continued. “The ability to reach out to vendors, professors or university partners when we had to acquire our materials made it easier for us as students to be able to execute our project successfully.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaboration with Personality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Design + Build studios always require teamwork, but this year\u2019s group fully embraced it \u2014 and occasionally embraced chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCollaboration looked like waking up to 125 notifications because the group chat was always activated,\u201d reflects Unal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unal proposed building a custom jig using a chainsaw to accurately cut the knife-plate slots into the bases of the columns. \u201cAt the beginning, everyone thought I was crazy,\u201d he said, \u201cbut it ultimately worked and allowed us to construct the pavilion the way we wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"crane
A crane was brought in to lift and place CLT columns.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The solution became one of the project\u2019s most memorable examples of improvisation, shared problem-solving and hands-on ingenuity that the Design + Build studio is known for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Unal, the finished pavilion brings both pride and relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had a quiet fear that no one would use it,\u201d he admitted. \u201cSo seeing people spending time under the structure, enjoying the space we poured so much into, is incredibly rewarding.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s already carrying lessons forward. Watching faculty call on long-standing relationships with local craftspeople highlighted the importance of connecting across trades. \u201cThose relationships make projects like this possible,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to build and maintain those in my own career because you never know when you\u2019ll need someone\u2019s expertise or when you\u2019ll be able to support them in return.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Pavilion in Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"two
Sadhana Srinivasan and Arda Unal speak at the Floating Grove ribbon cutting ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For both students, seeing Floating Grove actively used has been deeply rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had a quiet fear that no one would use it,\u201d Unal admitted. \u201cSo seeing people spending time under the structure, enjoying a space we poured so much into, is incredibly rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srinivasan echoed that sentiment, particularly during the ribbon-cutting celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was exciting to hear faculty from the College of Natural Resources appreciate the pavilion not only as a research-forward material application, but as a place they now host events and meetings,\u201d she said. \u201cSeeing people occupy the space the way we envisioned is incredibly meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Success Through Partnerships<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Floating Grove represents an evolution in NC State\u2019s Design + Build legacy and a growing campus conversation around mass timber, sustainability and hands-on learning. Furthermore, it couldn\u2019t have come to life without the support of the design community and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\"a<\/figure>\n\n\n
\n \n\n
\"group<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Detail<\/figure>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Primary funding for Floating Grove was provided by the NC State Sustainability Fund, William Valentine and the Softwood Lumber Board. Additional support came from the College of Design, the College of Natural Resources and the University Sustainability Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Floating Grove project shows what\u2019s possible when creativity, collaboration and commitment to sustainability come together,\u201d said Mark Hoversten, dean of the College of Design. \u201cIt\u2019s a space shaped by many hands and minds, and serves as a reflection of our students\u2019 talent and the power of design to shape our campus and community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the students who built it, the pavilion is also a reminder of the importance of relationships across trades, disciplines and institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWatching our professors reach out to people they\u2019ve worked with for years showed me how essential those connections are,\u201d Srinivasan said. \u201cThat\u2019s something I\u2019ll carry into every project moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Materials for the project were donated by many industry partners, including A Ward Architecture, Apine Roofing, Armature Design Build, Buildsense, Construction Metal Products, Christian Nonino, Doggett Concrete Construction, Evergreen CLT, Fitch Lumber and Hardware, Fred Construction, Jim Dautremont, Jordan Lumber, Sansin, Scalene Design, Simpson Strong – Tie and White Cap.<\/em><\/p>\n

This post was originally published<\/a> in College of Design Blog.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n

This summer, the School of Architecture\u2019s Design + Build program unveiled its latest construction. The Floating Grove, an open-air pavilion, sits nestled between Biltmore Hall and Jordan Hall at the College of Natural Resources (CNR), and claims the title of the university\u2019s first mass timber structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What began nearly two years ago as a concept for a bus shelter evolved into a full-fledged pavilion: a work-in-progress that became a permanent gathering space where community and nature intersect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Materials, Place and Student Vision<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For Graduate Architecture Student Arda Unal, the project marks a full-circle moment. After starting his NC State journey as an undergraduate in the College of Natural Resources, he saw the Design + Build studio as a rare chance to contribute something lasting to a campus that\u2019s shaped his academic path since 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"students
Students and instructors collaborating in the School of Architecture's Design + Build Studio.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat excited me most was the opportunity to work hands-on with an emerging building material,\u201d he said. \u201cGetting to design and build a structure that will live on this campus in an area I used to frequent felt incredibly meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That hands-on focus resonated just as strongly for Sadhana Srinivasan, who came to NC State as a transfer student and was eager to gain real-world experience beyond the traditional studio environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing able to work with mass timber was an exciting opportunity,\u201d Srinivasan said. \u201cIt\u2019s a material that\u2019s being researched more and more, especially in relation to sustainability. Knowing this project would directly impact a campus I\u2019ve grown to love made it even more meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early design work focused heavily on how the pavilion would meet the ground, connect to existing paths and preserve the site\u2019s mature trees. Students explored how to keep the space open for visibility while still feeling intimate enough for classes, small gatherings or quiet study. Students carefully considered how people would move between Jordan and Biltmore Halls, using the pavilion as both a connector and a place to pause<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessibility, safety and visibility were central to those conversations. \u201cWe wanted the space to feel open and inviting, but also comfortable and secure for everyone using it,\u201d Srinivasan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the key attributes of the construction was the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT), a strong, prefabricated engineered wood product made from layers of solid lumber glued together with perpendicular grain. A major priority was showcasing mass timber honestly, letting CLT panels and regional lumber do the structural and aesthetic heavy lifting. \u201cWe kept returning to simplicity,\u201d Unal said. \u201cA design that allowed the mass timber to be the focus and speak for itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Challenge of Building at Full Scale<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Floating Grove was created in just eleven weeks, pushing the team to figure out not only the design details but the realities of material acquisition as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"students
Students fabricated custom metal fixtures for the Floating Grove in the College of Design's Materials Lab.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Close-up
Close-up of the custom metal fixtures used on the Floating Grove used to connect CLT panels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the biggest challenges was finding manufacturers who could work with our accelerated schedule,\u201d Unal said. \u201cWe had to do a lot of explaining, a lot of calling and a lot of persuading. But we eventually found partners who believed in what we were doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Material constraints also shaped the design. Srinivasan noted that the CLT panels available for the project were limited to 4-foot-by-8-foot dimensions, a restriction that directly influenced how the panels were organized and how glulam beams were integrated into the structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their persistence paid off, resulting in a broad network of collaborators from timber suppliers to hardware manufacturers, mixing alumni connections, industry partners and local craftspeople who helped the students bring the pavilion to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat constraint ended up shaping the pavilion you see today,\u201d Srinivasan said. \u201cIt forced us to think carefully about efficiency, structure and how each element worked together.\u201d Weather added another layer of complexity near the end of construction, but steady collaboration across students, faculty, professionals and vendors kept the project moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A skill I will forever cherish from this experience is the importance of collaboration, communication and the relationships you build doing the work,\" she continued. \"The ability to reach out to vendors, professors or university partners when we had to acquire our materials made it easier for us as students to be able to execute our project successfully.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaboration with Personality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Design + Build studios always require teamwork, but this year\u2019s group fully embraced it \u2014 and occasionally embraced chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCollaboration looked like waking up to 125 notifications because the group chat was always activated,\u201d reflects Unal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unal proposed building a custom jig using a chainsaw to accurately cut the knife-plate slots into the bases of the columns. \u201cAt the beginning, everyone thought I was crazy,\u201d he said, \u201cbut it ultimately worked and allowed us to construct the pavilion the way we wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"crane
A crane was brought in to lift and place CLT columns.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The solution became one of the project\u2019s most memorable examples of improvisation, shared problem-solving and hands-on ingenuity that the Design + Build studio is known for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Unal, the finished pavilion brings both pride and relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had a quiet fear that no one would use it,\u201d he admitted. \u201cSo seeing people spending time under the structure, enjoying the space we poured so much into, is incredibly rewarding.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s already carrying lessons forward. Watching faculty call on long-standing relationships with local craftspeople highlighted the importance of connecting across trades. \u201cThose relationships make projects like this possible,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to build and maintain those in my own career because you never know when you\u2019ll need someone\u2019s expertise or when you\u2019ll be able to support them in return.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Pavilion in Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"two
Sadhana Srinivasan and Arda Unal speak at the Floating Grove ribbon cutting ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For both students, seeing Floating Grove actively used has been deeply rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had a quiet fear that no one would use it,\u201d Unal admitted. \u201cSo seeing people spending time under the structure, enjoying a space we poured so much into, is incredibly rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srinivasan echoed that sentiment, particularly during the ribbon-cutting celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was exciting to hear faculty from the College of Natural Resources appreciate the pavilion not only as a research-forward material application, but as a place they now host events and meetings,\u201d she said. \u201cSeeing people occupy the space the way we envisioned is incredibly meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Success Through Partnerships<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Floating Grove represents an evolution in NC State\u2019s Design + Build legacy and a growing campus conversation around mass timber, sustainability and hands-on learning. Furthermore, it couldn\u2019t have come to life without the support of the design community and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\"a<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
\"group<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Detail<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Primary funding for Floating Grove was provided by the NC State Sustainability Fund, William Valentine and the Softwood Lumber Board. Additional support came from the College of Design, the College of Natural Resources and the University Sustainability Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Floating Grove project shows what\u2019s possible when creativity, collaboration and commitment to sustainability come together,\u201d said Mark Hoversten, dean of the College of Design. \u201cIt\u2019s a space shaped by many hands and minds, and serves as a reflection of our students\u2019 talent and the power of design to shape our campus and community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the students who built it, the pavilion is also a reminder of the importance of relationships across trades, disciplines and institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWatching our professors reach out to people they\u2019ve worked with for years showed me how essential those connections are,\u201d Srinivasan said. \u201cThat\u2019s something I\u2019ll carry into every project moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Materials for the project were donated by many industry partners, including A Ward Architecture, Apine Roofing, Armature Design Build, Buildsense, Construction Metal Products, Christian Nonino, Doggett Concrete Construction, Evergreen CLT, Fitch Lumber and Hardware, Fred Construction, Jim Dautremont, Jordan Lumber, Sansin, Scalene Design, Simpson Strong - Tie and White Cap.<\/em><\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Built in just eleven weeks, Floating Grove is NC State\u2019s first mass timber pavilion designed and constructed by architecture students through the School of Architecture\u2019s Design + Build program. From chainsaw-built jigs to cross-laminated timber experimentation, the project showcases how hands-on learning, collaboration and sustainable materials come together to create a space that now belongs to the campus community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":29134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"ncstate_wire","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-29133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-_from-newswire-collection-277"],"displayCategory":null,"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29133"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29133\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29144,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29133\/revisions\/29144"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}