Lafayette Strong Pavilion

The Lafayette Strong Pavilion is the second gridshell structure from the multi-project collaboration out of Coastal Studio with Dalhousie University. This Gridshell was dedicated to the community in the wake of the tragic theatre shootings in Lafayette, Louisiana in 2015. This design-build brought three schools together: the University of Louisiana Lafayette, University of Arizona, and University of North Carolina Charlotte, sponsored by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

A slender, curved design comprised of thin wood pieces gives this structure a lightweight build and distinctive appearance, while providing the community with an airy, shaded space to congregate.

Purpose

• Shade pavilion in an art park
• Advancement of educational design-build practices

Slender Features

• 1:330 thickness to span ratio for sprung white oak gridshell (1:90 at built-up composite sections)

Novel Features

• 1st permanent sprung (aka elastic) gridshell built in USA
• 2nd permanent sprung (aka elastic) gridshell built in North America
• 1st known use of clamped friction fit wood connections in North America – cup washers accommodate annual dimensional changes from large humidity fluctuations

Progressive Features

• Educational design-build

Notable Value

• Tailoring the structural design approach to fit the needs of an educational design-build studio

LINKS:
Architect Magazine
Camellia Gridshell Pavilion Book

SHOUT OUTS:
Simon Rayment (Blackwell) – Co-Project Engineer
Bryan Schopf (Blackwell) – Structural Designer

IMAGE CREDITS:
Megan Bergeron