Designed by Williams students in the Fall 2023 “Design for the Pluriverse” tutorial, the Pluriverse Pavilion is a hub for exhibitions, environmental justice discussions, workshops, performances, and meetings. The students wanted it to especially provide a welcoming space for mindfulness and relaxation, promoting holistic well-being where people can relax, study, meditate, or connect.
Grounded in the “pluriverse” concept by Colombian-American anthropologist Arturo Escobar, the Pavilion embraces multiple ways of being in the world, inviting diverse engagement from various Williams communities, individuals, local groups, and beyond.
Bringing together art, architecture, and environmental studies, the Pavilion encourages reflection on the values behind design decisions. It challenges students to consider the impact of extracting architectural materials and urges responsibility in creative work.
This project has given students the opportunity to transform ideas into physical form. It is a hands-on learning experience, bridging theory and practice through what Richard Sennett calls “material consciousness,” connecting intellectual thought with tangible creation.
Reclaiming Materials
The Pavilion tells a story of materials salvaged and reclaimed and methods rethought. The wood hemlock boards, reclaimed from the refurbishment of the 1895 Jenness House, are more than just structural elements: they carry the history of past uses, now repurposed to support a new project. The exterior panels, reused from a previous Williams exhibition, add continuity and connection, linking past and present initiatives from institutional to student-led project displays.
The information on all architectural components indicating embedded carbon goes beyond mere data; it prompts a more profound reflection on the broader implications of each design choice. This transparency serves as an educational tool: if this small intervention is carbon-negative, it sparks an essential conversation about the environmental impact of larger projects. It encourages students to question whether the most sustainable, non-extractive approach might be to reconsider building anything at all.
Pavilion Total Carbon Footprint: -2066.35 kg CO2e
- Manufacturing and Transport: -5053.45 kg CO2e
> Reflects CO2 stored in reclaimed wood
- Construction/Installation: -506.57 kg CO2e
> Accounts for emissions from transporting materials and assembly
- Use of the Structure: 0.00 kg CO2e
> The Pavilion has no operational energy use
- End of Life: -2480.52 kg CO2e
> Impact can be reduced if the wood is reused or stored
Foundation: The foundation is constructed from 120-year-old Hemlock salvaged from renovations in the Davis Center complex, specifically from the Jenness House (1895). The wood was meticulously cataloged and refurbished, including nail removal, sanding, and patching. These boards form the Pavilion’s structural backbone, while longer, less aesthetic boards were repurposed as sleepers to adapt to unstable grass, facilitate easy removal during deconstruction, and efficiently use materials. Carbon Impact: 424.47 kg CO2e
Floor: The floor is the most carbon-efficient section of the Pavilion, constructed from custom-cut CDX plywood. Assembling like puzzle pieces, it guided the construction process to ensure proper alignment. CNC cut in Hoosick Falls, NY, to minimize transportation emissions, the weather-resistant plywood fulfills its functional purpose. Made by cutting logs into thin slices, this method reduces waste, with the wood veneers dried and glued together. Carbon Impact: -2221.93 kg CO2e
Columns & Beams: The columns and beams are the Pavilion’s heart, embodying historic New England’s character. Their reddish-brown hue, a hallmark of aged Hemlock, sets them apart. Carefully selected for quality and dimensions, these boards exemplify exciting reuse. Their age and condition enhance their strength, making them ideal for maintaining structural integrity. The key question remains: where will they go next? Carbon Impact: -78.21 kg CO2e
Open-Frame Facade: The vertical studs were sourced from local retailer RK Miles for their North American origin, ensuring sustainable harvesting and reduced transport emissions. The revitalized red panels, reclaimed from a local art installation, serve a similar purpose in their new home, with transport from Lenox, Massachusetts, being their only carbon impact. Carbon Impact: +118.38 kg CO2e
Roof: Custom CNC cut in Hoosick Falls and roughly a fourth of the size of the floor, the roof is treated with a weatherproof coating to help the structure reach its intended lifespan. Originally taller, with 10 degrees pitch rather than the current 5 degrees, the roof represented a late-onset design challenge that required one aspect of the structure to change without affecting the structural and design integrity of the rest of the structure. Carbon Impact: -72.30 kg CO2e
Reimagining Sustainability
At the heart of the Pavilion project is a commitment to doing things differently, focusing on materials and methods that reflect a deeper engagement with social and environmental issues. Drawing inspiration from scholars like Adrian Parr, Vandana Shiva, and Arturo Escobar, the Pavilion encourages students to rethink what it means to build responsibly in an industry dominated by extractive practices. Every material choice and construction technique is considered not just for its practical or aesthetic qualities but for its broader implications—where it came from, how it was produced, and its impact on people and the environment. While no architecture is non-extractive, the focus shifts to how and why we limit it and how we compensate for it.
The Pavilion calls for a reimagined approach to sustainability, challenging the traditional focus on technological solutions often shaped by economic interests. By welcoming discussions on land reclamation, environmental justice, and the intersections of diversity, inclusion, and belonging, the project seeks to inspire more equitable and inclusive futures. It encourages critical engagement with the root causes of ecological degradation and social inequality, emphasizing the need for systemic changes. These include addressing consumption patterns, social exclusion, resource extraction, and the hidden environmental costs embedded in so-called “green” materials.
Open and Flexible Use of the Pluriverse Pavilion
Historically, pavilions blur the line between architecture and sculpture, offering flexible, open-ended designs that resist categorization and invite interpretation. The Pluriverse Pavilion is no exception, and it has an open program. It is open for informal gatherings and can also be booked online for special events. To reserve the space, please contact Sam Samuel at [email protected]. QR codes will soon be accessible both on the website and at the Pavilion to simplify the booking process.
Main Sponsor:
Class of 1963 Sustainability Development Fund
In-kind support:
Office of the President
Ad Hoc Public Art Committee
Williams Art Department
Environmental Studies Program
Partner Sponsors:
CES Summer Internship & Research Funding 2024
Towards Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity Grant
Center for Learning in Action
Williams College Museum of Art
Written by Giuseppina Forte