Biophilia and Mass Timber at Swarthmore College
From the beginning of our 360 engagement for the Dining and Community Commons Project at Swarthmore College鈥檚 Scott Arboretum, equitable community and ambitious sustainability goals have served as powerful North stars for the design team. Our team also found inspiration from the book The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, which articulates the social connections, support network, and community resources that exist between trees in a forest. Exploring themes from the book and in collaboration with campus leaders, our team committed to the design objectives of biophilia, community, and sustainability.
To align with Swarthmore College鈥檚 carbon neutrality goals, the DCCP aims to reduce its carbon emissions in operations and embodied carbon. A mass timber structural system was compared against a steel structure and was found to eliminate a significant portion of the embodied carbon associated with steel structures, and sequester a considerable amount of carbon for the life of the facility. Our engineering team designed efficient, innovative building systems,聽including an all-electric commercial kitchen and in-floor radiant heating and cooling. Intense collaboration with the engineering team resulted in building systems that remain exposed yet enhance the architecture 鈥� a celebration of our integrated design process.
Sustainably harvested mass timber plays a vital role in occupant wellbeing. Early in the design process, at a biophilic design summit, the project team identified mass timber as a building material that will slow the release of stress hormones and reduce depression, fatigue, and anxiety. DCCP鈥檚 interior concept 鈥� inspired by the surrounding arboretum 鈥� reflects how nature provides nourishment, support, and social encounters aiding in mental and physical wellbeing. A strategic palette of interior finishes adds texture, color, and scale to front and back of house spaces. Timber brings warmth and comfort throughout the building, emphasizing the beauty of natural wood.
Students, faculty, staff, and administrators at the college share the design team鈥檚 excitement seeing the building take form. The building鈥檚 beautiful curves and welcoming warmth will transform the working environment for dining staff and provide a peaceful respite for busy students.
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