As Clemson University in South Carolina welcomes a new 16,000 sq ft Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center, it becomes the first mass timber structure on the campus and the second mass timber facility in the nation to use Southern yellow pine as the primary building material.
Designed to help Clemson students achieve mental and physical wellness through interaction with nature, the Centre comprises two multi-use classroom studios that can hold activities such as yoga, rowing, wellness seminars, nutrition, expedition planning, and other events. Other facilities include a resource for trip planning, equipment rentals, a bike repair/rental shop, a boathouse, a covered patio, a lounge, and a second-level deck overlooking Lake Hartwell.
The boathouse, which stores rental kayaks, paddleboards and rafts, is enclosed in passively ventilated skin of local cypress. The cypress skin lends an attractive visual appeal while ensuring the sustainability of the building.
The building is set to be net-zero ready and can potentially be operated off-grid with the installation of photovoltaics. Sustainable elements include expansive windows that offer natural daylight, sensor-controlled lighting, and large-scale fans that help reduce cooling loads. Passive cooling is used for boat storage spaces.
(All images are credited to Jonathan Hillyer)
