The Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (Columbia GSAPP) is pleased to present three outdoor pavilions — Goo, Hug, and Worm — designed and constructed by students in the Spring 2023 seminar “The Outside In Project” led by faculty Laurie Hawkinson and Galia Solomonoff. The seminar is an ongoing collaborative initiative to design, build, and program a temporary pavilion structure. For this edition, three pavilions were erected in May 2023 by the students on the North and South Lawns of Avery Hall and the Uris Hall Southeast Terrace on Columbia University’s Morningside Heights Campus. The construction of the pavilions coincided with Columbia GSAPP’s commencement celebrations on May 13 and 17. This is the fourth iteration of the seminar, following the construction of Web (2022), Avery Spot (2021), and Bob (2011).
The focus of this year’s seminar was exploring bio-based and recycled material options for the pavilion’s skin and researching photovoltaic (PV) technologies to generate power for the embedded lighting system. Students developed prototypes using hands-on and digital fabrication methods and presented calculations on wind load, environmental impact, and solar panel output in consultation with structural, electrical, and solar engineers to ensure the design complied with New York State building codes and Columbia University regulations.
Hug and Worm are sited on the South and North Lawns of Avery Hall, respectively, and Goo is located on Uris Hall’s Southeast Terrace. Each structure is unique: Worm is based on the concept of a continuous spline, Hug resembles an archway, and inflatable pillars support Goo’s cloud-like canopy. All three structures invite visitors to relax, recharge their devices, and engage with one another, injecting a sense of playfulness into the campus setting — a delightful distraction from the everyday and energetic hub. Situated right outside academic buildings, the pavilions provide an oasis of calm for students amid the end-of-semester rush as well as visitors to the University campus. Solar panels are installed on each pavilion’s canopy to harvest daylight for powering mobile device charging stations and embedded LED lighting systems that vibrantly glow at night. Throughout the design process, project teams worked to optimize the efficiency of the blowers through material reduction and internal volume calculations—therefore minimizing manufacturing costs—and to ensure easy and quick assembly processes. Sandbags counter-balance the weight of each structure — 1,300 pounds in the case of Hug alone! Taking a cue from its namesake, huggable components of the Hug pavilion are filled with recycled foam and donated clothing which, following de-installation, will be donated to a local shelter to continue making a positive impact on the local community.
Project Team
Worm
Samuel Bager, Yuna Li, Kelly He, Marina Ferreira Guimaraes, Brennan Heyward, Nicholas Richards
Hug
Saba Ardeshiri, Maclane Regan, Chi Chi Wakabayashi, Carley Pasqualotto, Angela Keele
Goo
Vishal Benjamin, Fortune Chayanidh Chantraprapawat, Cohaul Guohao Chen, Andy El Set, Kriti Shivagunde, Syed Haseeb Amjad, Harlan Luo
The project was supported by Dean Andrés Jaque and led by Professor Laurie Hawkinson, Associate Professor of Professional Practice Galia Solomonoff, and Research Assistant Zina Berrada ’22 MArch with additional support from Joshua Morrison, Director of Operations; Yonah Elorza, Making Studio Manager; Benjy Akhaven, Assistant Director, Academic Affairs; among many others at Columbia GSAPP. Additional support and consulting were provided by Hubert Chang from Silman Structural Engineers and Ray Panchari from the PV engineering firm Homerun Solar.
Access and additional Information
The Columbia University campus is open, and the three pavilions are most easily accessed by entering at the St. Paul’s Chapel gate on Amsterdam Avenue between 116 and 118 Street. For maps, directions, and additional visitor information please see the University Visitor Center webpage.
Images are available by request. For additional information, please see gsapp_worm on Instagram.