Poppins Nursery School Karuizawa Kazakoshi, designed by NIKKEN SEKKEI, is a single-story wooden nursery school in Japan. Located in a highland resort area of Karuizawa, near Lake Shiozawa and Kazakoshi Park, the structure overlooks Mount Asama. The building is positioned diagonally at the center of the site to naturally separate the south-facing playground from the north-facing parking area, making use of the site’s existing slope and minimizing the need for new barriers along the western retaining wall.

The project is defined by two leaf-shaped roofs of different heights. Childcare rooms are placed beneath the lower roof, while the higher roof covers the hall and staff facilities. The floor plan is designed so that all childcare rooms face the outdoor garden, and the hall functions as the central gathering space where children engage in group activities. Large windows introduce daylight and provide views of the surrounding landscape throughout the year.

Spatial divisions rely on wooden columns rather than enclosed walls, creating a continuous interior environment that supports movement and visual connection across age groups. The six nursery rooms, grouped into zones for ages 0-2 and 3-5, feature lower ceiling heights and a smaller spatial scale suited to young children. Each room connects to the hall through column-defined openings, allowing for gradual transitions between spaces and enabling interaction between different age groups.

all images by Norihito Yamauchi

NIKKEN SEKKEI employs Timber framework and Dual Roof Planes

The design team at NIKKEN SEKKEI opts for material and environmental strategies that emphasize wood as the primary interior finish. This approach aims to create a unified atmosphere across childcare rooms, circulation zones, and the hall. High-side windows located between the two roofs supply natural light and support gravity-based ventilation during mild seasons, reducing dependency on artificial lighting and mechanical cooling.

Structurally, the project employs two simple, untwisted roof planes cut into organic, leaf-like geometries that taper toward the eaves. These roof surfaces were constructed using standard laminated timber without special curved components. Columns are slightly angled along the curve of the plan so that their intersections with beams remain nearly vertical, allowing the use of common connection hardware and reducing the need for custom structural fittings. Double timber columns (120 × 240 mm European red pine) are arranged at regular 1,820 mm intervals, corresponding to plywood module dimensions and creating a rhythmic structural grid reminiscent of loosely defined forest-like zones.

By standardizing short-span joint details and optimizing material use, the project maintains a clear structural expression while remaining efficient to construct within a limited schedule and budget. The spatial volume beneath the high roof accommodates the hall, kitchen, and staff areas, while mechanical equipment is placed in the ceiling space under the low roof to maximize usable interior area.

a leaf-shaped roof defines the low, child-scaled volumes of the nursery

the building sits on a highland site overlooking Mount Asama

organic roof geometries taper toward the eaves

wooden columns replace walls to create an open interior flow

large windows bring natural light into the hall

laminated timber is used to form the untwisted roof planes

column-defined openings allow gentle transitions between spaces

wood surfaces unify the childcare rooms and circulation areas

double timber columns create a rhythm across the interior grid

all childcare rooms face the outdoor garden

nursery rooms are divided into zones for ages 0-2 and 3-5

structural spacing corresponds to standard plywood module dimensions

mechanical equipment is placed beneath the low roof to maximize space efficiency

high-side windows between the two roof levels channel light in and out of the interior

project info:

name: Poppins Nursery School Karuizawa Kazakoshi
architect: Nikken Sekkei Ltd | @nikkensekkei_global
location: Karuizawa, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

site area: 2699.04 sqm

total floor area: 494.46 sqm

contractor: Seibu Construction Co., Ltd.

photographer: Norihito Yamauchi

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Located in the northern districts of Marseille, France, Les Fabriques is a school complex by Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés designed as a compact, climate-responsive structure built from solid stone. Positioned on a constrained plot within the Littorale urban development zone, the project integrates a nursery school and an elementary school, each with dedicated reception areas, circulation routes, and naturally lit and ventilated classrooms.

The design adopts a vertical strategy that consolidates program elements in order to free ground space for the preschool playground. Additional outdoor areas for the elementary school, like playgrounds, gardens, and educational terraces, are arranged in a stepped configuration rising to the roof. At the request of the City of Marseille, the rooftop accommodates a sports facility that includes half a basketball court, an athletics track, and a tensile mesh structure reminiscent of a catamaran sail. This upper-level program extends the building’s public role by serving as a neighborhood gathering space outside school hours.

stone volumes form the school’s compact urban massing | all images by Sergio Grazia unless stated otherwise

Thick Stone facade and Terraced Volumes Form School Landscape

BGA’s design team defines the complex as a ‘landscape building,’ composed of interlocking mineral volumes that follow the site’s topography. The massing generates sheltered interstitial spaces used as open-air classrooms, performance areas, and gardens. These spaces contribute to climatic comfort while supporting biodiversity, including bird habitats. The overall morphology responds to local environmental conditions, like strong mistral winds, high solar exposure, and recurrent heatwaves, by creating a sequence of protected, navigable zones throughout the school.

The building envelope is constructed from solid stone sourced from the Beaulieu quarry. Blocks measuring 20 to 45 cm thick provide thermal inertia and long-term durability. Deep overhangs and the stone’s material density moderate heat gain, stabilizing interior temperatures across classrooms and corridors. Stone and concrete are used together as a hybrid structural system, balancing mass with structural efficiency.

tiered outdoor terraces connect learning spaces across levels

Daily Function and Public Access organize School’s Spatial layout

Attention to daily use is reflected in design details such as a continuous line of coat hooks inspired by Osvaldo Cavandoli, which introduces a clear and legible orientation device for children. Circulation is organized to support calm movement and supervision within the school, addressing both functional and safety requirements in this part of the city. Brenac & Gonzalez & Associes’ project was carried out in close coordination with Euroméditerranée and the City of Marseille, who supported program adjustments, including the integration of the rooftop sports facility, and facilitated experimentation with construction methods. The building also participates in the city’s ‘À nous les toits’ initiative, allowing use by local associations and residents outside school hours.

Les Fabriques demonstrates how solid stone construction, compact massing, and tiered outdoor spaces can be combined to achieve climatic resilience within dense urban conditions. The project establishes a protective and adaptable environment for education while contributing a durable architectural presence to Marseille’s northern districts.

deep overhangs in solid stone provide passive solar protection

the preschool playground occupies the site’s open central area

interlocking blocks create sheltered courtyards and passageways

stone facades emphasize durability and thermal inertia

the stone cores were reused in the construction of the wall

Les Fabriques’ solid stone construction and tiered outdoor spaces achieve climatic resilience

project info:

name: Les Fabriques

architect: Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés | @brenacgonzalezassocies

area: 3575 sqm

location: Marseille, France

project architect: Jean-Pierre Lévêque

project managers: Julien Gonin and Arnaud Ladauge

landscape design: MOZ Landscape

client: Euroméditerranée – Établissement Public d’Aménagement – Marseille

engineering: ACV/AGS (VRD) / ALTO (Electrical Engineering, Fluids & Climate Engineering, Environmental Engineering) / Bollingher&Grohmann (Structure) / ENVISOL (Pollution Control)/ – F BOUGON (Eco)

construction: Eiffage

stonework: PROROCH

photographer: Sergio Grazia | @sergio.grazia, Stefan Tuchila | @stefan.tuchila

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Ghiotto is a boccia ramp designed to support social interaction among children with and without disabilities in school environments. Developed by Diego Reggiani as a university project within a design laboratory at Politecnico di Milano, it was selected for the shortlist of the iF Design Student Award. Rooted in the principles of universal design, the project addresses a crucial challenge: enabling children who use wheelchairs to build meaningful relationships from a young age. Play is a simple, powerful tool for fostering early inclusion and counteracting the isolation that many disabled adults still face. In addition to its social impact, the ramp also supports the development of both fine and gross motor skills through play and sport, offering functional benefits that extend into everyday life.

Ghiotto introduces several innovations tailored specifically to young users. Unlike professional ramps, which are heavy, technical, and limited to height adjustment, the project features a simple and intuitive mechanism. A pivot pin and a set of cuts in the structure allow the ramp to be tilted easily, giving children more control and engagement in the game. To enhance usability, the ramp includes a built-in area for organizing and storing the boccia balls before and after the game, keeping everything tidy and within reach. This functional clarity is reinforced by careful dimensional development: anthropometric data of both wheelchair users and non-disabled children were used to ensure an accessible, comfortable, and intuitive experience for all. The resulting gestures are simple and inclusive, encouraging shared play without barriers.

all images courtesy of Diego Reggiani

Six-Position adaptable Ramp Turns Boccia Ramp Into Creative Tool

Since boccia is inherently a simple and accessible game, Ghiotto can be used in a wide variety of ways. The core action, rolling a ball, is easy to grasp, and the product’s design encourages imagination and exploration. In this way, the ramp becomes a versatile and playful tool where only the user’s creativity defines its limits. One of the ramp’s most distinctive features is its ability to adjust the launch speed by changing the angle of the tube. This mechanism is intentionally straightforward: a pivot pin at the front of the ramp interacts with a notched groove on the upper part of the arch, allowing the ramp to be set into six different positions, covering a total inclination range of 35 degrees.

The tube is perforated laterally to accommodate conical-head screws fastened into threaded inserts, reinforced by a locking nut that prevents loosening over time. From a construction perspective, Ghiotto, developed by designer Diego Reggiani, uses different types of joints tailored to the function and position of each part. To connect the arch to the base, a mortise and tenon joint is employed, providing structural rigidity without increasing production costs. To secure the side panels that hold the boccia balls, a different approach is used. Inspired by furniture assembly systems, a combination of wooden dowels and screws is adopted. These are fixed from above using a special locking bolt, ensuring horizontal stability. In conclusion, Ghiotto transforms play into an inclusive, intuitive, and enduring experience for everyone.

Ghiotto is a boccia ramp designed to support inclusive play in school environments

the project was developed by Diego Reggiani at Politecnico di Milano

the design applies universal design principles to foster early social interaction

the ramp enables children who use wheelchairs to participate equally in play

inclusive play helps counteract isolation that many disabled people experience

Ghiotto supports both fine and gross motor skill development through sport

a simple pivot mechanism allows children to tilt the ramp easily

launch speed can be adjusted by changing the angle of the tube

the pivot pin and notched groove allow six ramp positions across a 35° range

an integrated storage area organizes boccia balls before and after play

project info:

name: Ghiotto
designer: Diego Reggiani

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Vo Trong Nghia Architects – VTN has completed Nuoc Ui School in Tra Mai commune, Nam Tra My district, a remote mountainous region in Central Vietnam. The project provides an educational facility for an ethnic minority community living across steep terrain and a climate characterized by frequent storms and heavy rainfall. Funded primarily by the Midas Foundation, with windows and doors sponsored by Tostem, the school is conceived as a durable and locally adapted structure. The design prioritizes the preservation of the existing landscape and establishes a clear relationship between the built environment and the surrounding forested mountains. Classrooms and supporting buildings are arranged to open toward these natural views, while a central courtyard is oriented to overlook the valley. The architectural layout emphasizes openness, natural light, and environmental responsiveness.

Built from rammed earth and bamboo, the project embraces local materials and the surrounding forested landscape, opening its classrooms toward sweeping valley views. Simple yet robust, the architecture forms a sheltered courtyard and a semi-indoor playground that support learning in all seasons. With passive ventilation, deep eaves, and a layout shaped by nature, the school stands as a quiet but powerful response to place, a modest structure with an enduring spirit.

all images by Trieu Chien

Nuoc Ui School Establishes Nature-Connected Educational Space

Architectural practice Vo Trong Nghia Architects – VTN positions locally sourced materials at the foundation of the school project. Rammed earth walls and bamboo roofing reduce transportation demands and environmental impact while maintaining a direct connection to regional building traditions. These materials also support the structural requirements of the sloped site and provide resilience against heavy rainfall. Deep roof eaves are incorporated to protect the earthen walls and extend the building’s lifespan. The school is organized around an internal courtyard, with classrooms connected to a forecourt through a semi-indoor playground. This arrangement forms a continuous sequence of spaces for learning, play, and group activities. The semi-indoor playground, located between two classrooms, offers a sheltered play area that remains usable during rainy periods.

Large, symmetrically placed windows provide natural ventilation and daylighting, reducing reliance on mechanical systems. Combined with buffer zones such as covered corridors and deep eaves, the ventilation strategy helps maintain a stable indoor environment suited to the region’s humid tropical climate. These transitional spaces also function as areas for informal activities and interaction. Nuoc Ui School presents an architectural approach grounded in local materials, climatic conditions, and community needs. Its modest scale and clear structural system support long-term durability, while its arrangement of interconnected indoor and outdoor spaces establishes a learning environment closely aligned with its natural context.

Nuoc Ui School sits within a remote mountainous region of Central Vietnam

the school is designed to withstand frequent storms and heavy rainfall

classrooms open toward surrounding forested mountains

rammed earth and bamboo define the project’s material approach

a central courtyard is oriented to capture expansive valley views

deep eaves protect earthen walls from rain and extend the structure’s lifespan

local materials reduce environmental impact and support regional building traditions

large, symmetrical windows provide daylight and natural ventilation

the design responds directly to the region’s humid tropical climate

project info:

name: Nuoc Ui School
architects: Vo Trong Nghia Architects VTN | @vtnarchitects_votrongnghia

lead architect: Vo Trong Nghia

location: Nam Tra My, Quang Nam, Vietnam

area: 295.5 sqm

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Studio DERA has repurposed a former school swimming pool into a sustainable multi-purpose learning and wellbeing space for Waltham Forest College in London. With the college rapidly expanding its student body, finding new ways to accommodate educational and extracurricular needs was a priority. Studio DERA had already run a sustainable materials workshop for WFC students, while building a hempcrete and timber community center and nursery in nearby Higham Hill. College Principal & CEO Janet Gardner, invited Studio DERA directors Max Dewdney and Marcel Rahm to reimagine the long disused swimming pool site and do a feasibility study. The architects decided that retrofitting the original structure and utilising natural materials was the most sustainable and efficient way to transform the space into an attractive and inspiring hub for students and staff. A RIBA Stage 2 Report and a strong design narrative that aligned with the college’s estate strategy resulted in a successful funding bid to the Department for Education.

From the outset, Studio DERA’s work was shaped by ongoing consultations with educators, curriculum leaders, facilities managers, and students. The architects ran a series of workshops and engagement sessions to test spatial strategies, technical requirements, and user priorities. This informed key elements of the final design, including the subdivision of the Pool into zones, the use of biophilic and acoustic elements, and the inclusion of a stage and IT suite. Balancing architectural ambition with operational need, Studio DERA worked closely with the college to coordinate infrastructure upgrades and ensure long-term adaptability and maintainability with the installation of a new renewable energy system. The project was completed in 48 weeks, but fine-tuning continues post-completion, based on real-time user feedback from students and staff. The result is a versatile, welcoming, and light-filled space of 994 sqm.

all images courtesy of Studio DERA

Light, Material, and Adaptability Anchor Pool’s Adaptive Redesign

The Pool has five learning zones, each tailored to support a range of teaching styles and group sizes. A raised stage positioned at the former pool’s deep end creates a focal point for lectures, performances, and assemblies. Beneath it, a new IT room cleverly uses the original pool depth to deliver a high-performance digital learning infrastructure. The original high-level windows were cut down to the external floor level, dramatically increasing the natural light. Studio DERA installed integrated window seating along the old pool concourse, and fixed desks around the perimeter of the former pool tank for study and small group work. To increase thermal performance to meet DfE standards, triple-glazed windows were installed, along with insulation of both external and internal walls, and new insulated pipework. Operational energy use is expected to fall significantly thanks to air source heat pumps, mixed-mode ventilation, and LED lighting.

Material choices were guided by principles of low embodied carbon, durability, and circularity, and include FSC-certified timber, recycled acoustic panels, and low-VOC finishes. ‘We wanted the Pool to be an inspiring and practical space that elevates student learning and staff functionality, and, above all, brings joy. We were really keen to show just what is architecturally possible in the education sector, which is so often sadly under-funded and under-prioritized. Janet Gardner at Waltham Forest College was a visionary leader for this project, and together with our great contractors, we’ve delivered an ambitious, design-led and sustainable hub which puts the user experience front and center,’ shares Max Dewdney, Studio DERA’s director architect.

Studio DERA transforms a disused school swimming pool into a multi-purpose learning space in London

the space is divided into five learning zones to accommodate varied teaching styles and group sizes

the design prioritizes natural materials and low embodied carbon construction methods

retrofitting the original pool structure minimized waste and preserved the site’s existing framework

expanded windows bring daylight deep into the interior, enhancing visibility and comfort

integrated seating along the pool’s former edge encourages informal study and collaboration

a raised stage at the pool’s deep end forms a focal point for lectures, assemblies, and performances

fixed desks line the perimeter, offering flexible spaces for group and individual work

the project features FSC-certified timber, recycled acoustic panels, and low-VOC finishes

the project supports Waltham Forest College’s expanding educational and wellbeing programs

The Pool stands as an example of how adaptive reuse can renew educational architecture sustainably

project info:

name: The Pool
architect: Studio DERA

location: London, UK

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The Himi Shinmachi Daycare Center, designed by Shio Architect Design Office – Ataru Shio, is a new two-story wooden facility located in the center of Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. The project replaces a nursery that had been in operation for nearly 50 years and was commissioned through a selective tender process aimed at developing high-quality public architecture at a local scale.

The design seeks to create an educational environment that supports early childhood learning while serving as a recognizable civic presence within the community. The building’s placement was determined by the constraints of the site, an elongated plot running north to south, bisected by an existing underground sewer line. To accommodate this condition, the structure is positioned to one side of the pipeline, optimizing both usable space and access to natural light. Constructed using a traditional wooden framework system, the daycare employs locally sourced timber supported by the Forestry Agency’s regional materials subsidy program. This approach not only reinforces the connection to local craftsmanship but also promotes the sustainable use of regional resources.

all images by Satoshi Asakawa

Wooden curved interior promotes safety and Tactile Learning

Given the limited number of sunny days in the Hokuriku region, the design prioritizes natural illumination. Large openings and an open spatial layout allow interior areas to remain bright even under overcast conditions, providing children with a comfortable and active indoor environment. Safety and sensory experience also guided the design: sharp corners are minimized to prevent injuries, and authentic materials such as wood and tile are used throughout, offering children direct tactile contact with natural surfaces from an early age.

The result is a community-centered public building by Shio Architect Design Office, led by architect Ataru Shio, that balances environmental responsiveness, spatial clarity, and material honesty, supporting both early education and the local built culture of Toyama Prefecture.

the Himi Shinmachi Daycare Center is located in the heart of Himi City, Toyama Prefecture

designed by Shio Architect Design Office, the project replaces a 50-year-old nursery

the two-story wooden structure serves as both an educational and civic space

authentic materials like wood and tile create a tactile learning environment

the building’s form responds to the site’s narrow, north–south orientation

the structure is built to optimize daylight and usable space

a traditional wooden framework forms the building’s structural system

locally sourced timber reinforces the connection to regional craftsmanship

the design ensures bright, comfortable interiors throughout the year

the open layout encourages movement and play for young children

children experience natural textures and materials in their daily surroundings

the daycare center embodies environmental responsiveness and material honesty

sharp corners are minimized to enhance safety within active play areas

project info:

name: Himi Shinmachi Daycare Center

architect: shio architect design office – Ataru Shio | @atarushio
location: Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan

floor area: 982.56 sqm

construction/contractor: Higashi Kogyo, Himi Civil Engineering, and Hamai Joint Venture

photographer: Satoshi Asakawa

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The Bloomberg Student Center has opened on Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood campus in Baltimore, marking the university’s first building devoted entirely to student life. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) with interiors by Rockwell Group, the 150,000-square-foot structure establishes a new hub of activity and connection at the heart of the university’s 150th anniversary year.

Set into the sloping site at 33rd and Charles Street, the building unfolds as a composition of mass timber volumes cascading down the hill. The series of 29 interlinked pavilions, framed in wood and topped with cantilevered flat roofs, creates a sequence of sheltered terraces and accessible entries on each level. Nearly 1,000 photovoltaic panels line the roofscape, supplying roughly half of the building’s energy and underscoring Johns Hopkins’ sustainability goals. The building is targeting LEED Platinum certification. See designboom’s previous coverage with early renderings here!

image © Laurian Ghinițoiu

mass timber architecture for johns hopkins university

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)’s design introduces a language of lightness and openness along the edge of Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood campus. Exposed acoustic dowel-laminated timber ceilings and beams bring a quiet warmth to the interior, where natural daylight moves across wood surfaces and limestone floors. The glazed facade frames activity within — study groups, performances, meals — to create visibility between the university and the city.

Inside, a central stair anchors the plan. Lined with built-in seating and greenery, it connects the four levels while forming a vertical commons, described by the architects as the building’s living room. Around it, a network of adaptable rooms accommodates rehearsal studios, club spaces, recording booths, and lounges. The program remains flexible and unassigned, and invites daily use and spontaneous interaction.

image © Laurian Ghinițoiu

warm interiors by rockwell group

Rockwell Group’s interiors extend the architecture’s rhythm of timber structure and natural materiality. The designers approached the project as an ‘integrated lifestyle hub,’ choreographing social spaces that mirror the tempo of student life with places for study and gathering. White oak millwork, layered lighting, and limestone details tie together the different functions with visual coherence and tactile calm.

The food hall, one of the center’s social anchors, features local vendors selected through a collaborative process involving more than 2,000 students. Above its dining area, artist Jorge Pardo’s installation of 85 handblown glass orbs introduces a field of color and light, balancing the timber’s warmth with a sense of openness. Adjacent to the hall, Mo’s Place transitions from coffee shop to evening bar, this way linking interior activity to outdoor patios and the surrounding landscape by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

image © Laurian Ghinițoiu

The student center’s stepped massing bridges the topographic divide between the main academic precinct and residential areas across Charles Street. Entrances at multiple levels invite movement through the building and reinforce its role as a connective threshold. Terraces and planted courtyards extend the interior outward, forming informal zones for gathering beneath the timber rooflines.

Bjarke Ingels describes the project as a ‘village of timber pavilions climbing the natural hill on the university’s edge.’ The phrase captures both its physical structure and its social intent — a place designed to host the evolving rituals of university life. For Johns Hopkins, the center represents an architectural consolidation of student culture once dispersed across campus. With its calm material palette together with its open and sunlit interiors, the Bloomberg Student Center stands as a framework for that culture to grow.

image © Laurian Ghinițoiu

image © Nic Lehoux

image © Nic Lehoux

image © Nic Lehoux

image © Nic Lehoux

project info:

name: Bloomberg Student Center

architect: Bjarke Ingels Group | @big_builds

interior architect: Rockwell Group | @rockwellgroup

location: Baltimore, Maryland

client: Johns Hopkins University | @johnshopkinsu

landscape: Michael van Valkenburgh Associates | @mvva.inc

previous coverage: November 2020

completion: 2025

photography: © Nic Lehoux | @nic.lehoux, © Laurian Ghinițoiu | @laurianghinitoiu

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The Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation opens at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, marking Grafton Architects’ first completed project in the United States. Designed in collaboration with local firm Modus Studio, the 42,000-square-foot mass-timber building stands as a new precedent for environmentally-responsive campus architecture informed by material research and regional identity.

The center is both an academic facility and a working laboratory dedicated to timber design, sustainable forestry, and digital fabrication. With classrooms, studios, galleries, and a double-height fabrication hall, the building is a core component of the university’s growing Art and Design District.

Dean Peter MacKeith describes the center as ‘a living curriculum’ which allows students to engage with the full lifecycle of architecture, from material sourcing to assembly. At the same time, the project supports faculty research into affordable housing, forestry, and emerging timber technologies.

images © Tim Hursley

grafton architects’ ‘story book of timber’

True to Grafton Architects’ material-driven approach, the building is conceived as a ‘Story Book of Timber.’ Its structure reveals layers of Southern Yellow Pine, white oak, red cedar, and other native species sourced from Arkansas forests. The Pritzker Prize-winning architects top the structure with a cascading roof system of cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels supported by monumental glue-laminated beams that function as rainwater gutters.

This roof performs as both infrastructure and climate mediator — shading interiors from the southern sun, directing runoff to a bioswale, and defining the center’s architectural character. Circulation routes thread between the fabrication hall and teaching spaces, opening framed views toward the courtyard and surrounding campus. Passive strategies, such as calibrated glazing and natural ventilation, reduce dependency on active systems like air conditioning.

the Anthony Timberlands Center opens as Grafton Architects’ first project in the US

international design informed by local expertise

The partnership between Grafton Architects and Modus Studio brought together international design experience and regional construction expertise. While Grafton shaped the conceptual framework, the team at Modus translated it into local material systems and fabrication methods, and ensured that Arkansas’s forests and industries were integral to the process.

Thus, the building merges global architectural discourse with regional culture. Chris Baribeau of Modus Studio emphasized the ambition to ‘bridge international design with regional application,’ a balance evident in the project’s technical sophistication and material authenticity.

Located within the University of Arkansas’ growing Art and Design District, the Anthony Timberlands Center adds to a larger campus district that includes the Windgate Studio and Design Center and the forthcoming Windgate Gallery and Foundations Building. A shaded pedestrian courtyard planted with loblolly pines connects the structures, and serves as a landscaped outdoor classroom.

the building joins the University of Arkansas’ growing Art and Design District

its mass-timber structure uses locally-sourced lumber

a cascading CLT roof shades interiors and channels rainwater into a bioswale

Grafton Architects is supported by regional expertise from Modus Studio

passive environmental strategies demonstrate climate-responsive timber architecture

classrooms surround an 11,000 square-foot fabrication hall dedicated to hands-on learning

project info:

name: Anthony Timberlands Center

design architect: Grafton Architects | @graftonarchitects

local architect: Modus Studio | @modusstudio

location: Arkansas, USA

client: University of Arkansas | @uarkansas

completion: 2025

photography: © Tim Hursley | @timhursley

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At Baoshan No. 2 Central Primary School in Shanghai, OLA Shanghai collaborated with LEGO China and NIKE to create a playground that integrates movement and creativity. The design takes inspiration from the form and logic of a simple 2×3 LEGO brick, translating its modularity into spatial and athletic functions.

Developed as part of NIKE’s Move to Zero initiative, the project aims to merge the concepts of play and physical activity. Modular elements derived from LEGO bricks are reinterpreted as adaptable structures for climbing, balancing, and exploration, encouraging children to construct their own routes and redefine how play spaces can support movement.

all images courtesy of LEGO China and NIKE

Modular components reconfigure into various play structures

The design also connects to LEGO China’s Build the Change workshop, where children used LEGO bricks to express ideas about play and design. Insights from the workshop informed the project’s emphasis on open-ended interaction, allowing students to experiment, collaborate, and transform even short breaks into moments of creative movement.

Through this collaboration between companies NIKE and LEGO China, the playground becomes both a learning environment and a flexible platform for exploration, reflecting how design can support the intersection of education, sustainability, and play.

the playground at Baoshan No. 2 Central Primary School redefines the relationship between play and movement

OLA Shanghai designed the space in collaboration with LEGO China and NIKE

modular design principles guide both the spatial layout and the play structures

the design translates LEGO’s modularity into physical, scalable play experiences

each element encourages climbing, balancing, and active exploration

the project draws inspiration from the simple geometry of a 2×3 LEGO brick

children can create their own routes and patterns of movement

play and physical activity merge through flexible, open-ended structures

the playground promotes experimentation and collective play

open-ended interaction encourages creativity and problem-solving

modular components can be rearranged to support different play activities

the space adapts to both structured games and spontaneous exploration

LEGO x NIKE playground serves as a model for rethinking school-based play spaces

project info:

name: LEGO x NIKE Sports as Play in Shanghai Primary School

designer: Our LEGO Agency Shanghai (In-house Agency at the LEGO Group)

workshop: Build the Change by LEGO China

program: Move to Zero by NIKE

companies: LEGO | @lego x NIKE | @nike

school: Baoshan No. 2 Central Primary School

location: Shanghai, China

head of LEGO Agency Asia: Annie Boo
creative director: Guo Jun
creative specialist: Bebe Wang
senior copywriter: Beck Deng
senior art director: Jace Wang
senior project manager: Karen Lin
project manager: Venice Choy

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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The Robert Day Sciences Center has opened at Claremont McKenna College in Southern California, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) as the first built project of the school’s Roberts Campus masterplan. At 135,000 square feet, the new building extends the campus’s north mall toward Ninth Street and Claremont Boulevard, forming a major gateway to the college and supporting a multidisciplinary approach to science and technology.

The project was first commissioned in 2020 and now welcomes students and faculty. It serves as a platform for computational gene, brain, and climate research, and creates a place for computer science, data science, and the life sciences all together. 

images © Laurian Ghinițoiu

bjarke Ingels group’s stack of rotating boxes

Creative Director Bjarke Ingels describes the concept for Claremont McKenna College as ‘a series of parallel building volumes side by side — with a public space in between — that are rotated in all the same directions as the mall.’ Each stacked volume is rotated 45 degrees from the one below, creating an atrium at the core of the structure.

‘Even though each of the individual building volumes are rational, flexible, and capable of being computer labs or wet labs, the open atrium in between becomes a Piranesian social space,’ the Danish architect explains. ‘It’s a crucible where all of the different kinds of knowledge and all of the different kinds of students and teachers come together in one complex, three-dimensional learning environment.‘

Bjarke Ingels Group’s Robert Day Sciences Center opens at Claremont McKenna College

a modern laboratory surrounds a lofty atrium

Bjarke Ingels Group wraps its Claremont McKenna College building with a facade of board-formed glass fiber reinforced concrete, which brings a wood-like texture with the durability required for a modern laboratory. Inside, triangular steel trusses clad in Douglas fir continue the rhythm of the structure, carrying a tactile warmth through the atrium and into the classrooms. The roof’s 11,000 square feet of solar panels produce about 342 megawatt hours of electricity annually, supporting the building’s LEED Gold sustainability target.

The atrium itself is a vertical commons. It includes a full-height space that offers direct views into classrooms and laboratories, with a broad social stair connecting the first two levels and a café tucked below. Damien Ortega’s Magnetic Field, an intricate sculpture of Earth’s magnetosphere, is suspended thirty feet above the ground floor, and is composed of eighteen metal rings and nearly 1,500 glass spheres.

the 135,000 square-foot building occupies the new Roberts Campus masterplan

Ground-level amenities include the McElwee Forum and imaging suites, while upper floors house classrooms, research areas, wet and dry labs, the Quantum Library, and a maker’s space. Perimeter classrooms capture mountain views and remain distinct from the central social core, ensuring both focus and openness.

Eight landscaped rooftop terraces extend the building’s program outdoors, offering panoramic views of Mount Baldy, the surrounding campus, and the adjacent sports bowl. These terraces function as outdoor classrooms and informal gathering spaces, reinforcing the building’s role as an active center for integrated learning and research at Claremont McKenna College.

eight rooftop terraces provide 360 degree mountain and campus views

President Hiram E. Chodosh highlights the building’s role in shaping a new academic culture: ‘This gorgeous architecture amplifies and elevates a revolutionary vision for higher learning at a critical moment in the well-being of our species, our brains, our planet.

‘Bjarke’s rotating stacks create opportunities to learn at the intersections. The wood fuels our social warmth. The glass cuts through the barriers.’

stacked volumes rotate 45 degrees, creating a multilevel atrium for collaboration

triangular steel trusses clad in Douglas Fir bring warmth to interior spaces

a social stair and café activate the full height atrium at the heart of the building

board-formed glass fiber reinforced concrete wraps the exterior

project info:

name: Robert Day Sciences Center

architect: Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) | @big_builds

location: Claremont, California, USA

client: Claremont McKenna College | @claremontmckennacollege

area: 135,000 square feet

completion: September 2025

photography: © Laurian Ghinițoiu | @laurianghinitoiu

collaborators: Saiful Bouquet, Acco Engineered Systems, Atlas Civil Design, MRY, Rosendin Electric, WSP USA, Jacobs, ARUP, KGM Architectural Lighting, Heintges, KOA, EWCG, KPRS, Herrick, Hortus Environmental Design, IDS Real Estate Group, Kleinfelder, Salamander, Code Consultants Inc

BIG team:

creative director: Bjarke Ingels
partner-in-charge: Leon Rost
project manager: Aran Coakley
technical lead: Amir Mikhaeil
project leader: Lorenz Krisai
team: Abigail Meyer, Ahmad Tabbakh, Alan Maedo, Ana Luisa Pedreira, Beat Schenk, Bernardo Schuhmacher,
Bianca Blanari, Casey Tucker, David Holbrook, David Iseri, Dylan Hames, Gus Steyer, Hector Romero, Jan
Leenknegt, Janie Louise Green, Joe Veliz, Kam Chi Cheng, Minjung Ku, Neha Sadruddin, Pooya AleDavood, Richard
Cagasca, Ryan Duval, Seung Ho Shin, Sue Biolsi, Terrence Chew, Thomas Guerra, Thomas McMurtrie, Tracy Sodder,
Vi Madrazo, Won Ryu, Yanan Ding, Yasamin Mayyas, Yen-Jung Alex Wu, Yiling Emily Chen

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