design/buildLAB completes baseball pavilion in virginia

design/buildLAB completes a prefabricated baseball pavilion in virginia
image © jeff goldberg/ESTO
all images courtesy of design/buildLAB

in clifton forge, virginia, 15 third year undergraduate architecture students from virginia tech university have completed the construction of a prefabricated baseball pavilion named ‘the sharon fieldhouse’. the students, who were responsible for both the project’s design and build, are part of the school’s design/buildLAB initiative – a project-based experiential learning program that focuses on the research, development and implementation of innovative construction methods and architectural designs.

image © jeff goldberg/ESTO

the structure, which cost only $120,000 to complete, sits on a gently inclined hillside, defined by a series of terraced baseball fields. the building itself is divided into three elements: the pavilion, the concession stand and the restrooms. the division of the three primary volumes allows the site’s circulation to weave its way in and around the occupied space, while the entrance is formed of large concrete steps that double as an informal place for congregation. positioned between the concession stand and the restrooms, the shaded pavilion juts outwards, offering views of the field as well as views to the surrounding mountains.

image © jeff goldberg/ESTO

after studying the town and working closely with the community to develop a program, all 15 involved students made individual design propositions for the project. from those, students iteratively merged their proposals. in this way, all of the students contributed ideas to the discussion, led by program directors keith and marie zawistowski.

image © jeff goldberg/ESTO

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