This 1,600-square-foot pavilion is a sustainable sanctuary designed to transform an underutilized courtyard into a vibrant hub for student life. The pavilion protects students from San Francisco’s famously unpredictable fog—locally known as “Karl”—while respecting the heritage of the school’s landmarked historic campus. The project centered on achieving a 40-foot clear span using an elegant, freestanding timber system. The primary structure features 24F-V8 Glulam trusses, precision-fabricated via CNC technology by Western Wood Structures. To navigate a site inaccessible to heavy machinery, the pavilion was engineered as a “kit-of-parts” for manual assembly without a crane. The structure supports an innovative Onyx Solar glass roof that generates net-positive electricity. By combining high-performance timber engineering with a refined aesthetic, the project serves as an inspiring, low-impact model of modern structural intervention.

Architect:
DNM Architecture

Location:
San Francisco, California