Title: Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center at Clemson University
Location of Proejct: Clemson, SC
Project Completion Date: November 2019
Firm Name: Cooper Carry

Short Description: The Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center is a 16,000-square-foot mass timber building at Clemson University’s Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina. The primary mission of the Center is to support the mental and physical well-being of students through creating physical, visual, and experiential connections with nature. The project represents Clemson’s commitment to sustainability, as the University’s first mass timber building featuring net-zero ready capabilities. The Center offers flexible space for wellness seminars, events, trip planning, equipment repairs, and socializing, along with views to the lake and woodlands.

Architect's Statement: The design of the first mass timber, net-zero ready structure was challenging due to the complex balance of codes, innovative systems, aesthetics, and unproven cost models. Collaborative engagement with code officials and university leadership provided a successful design path. The innovation of mass timber required the careful coordination of building utilities, as all the ceilings in the building are exposed. The vision for the project was to showcase the warmth of the wood structure without too much obstruction from unsightly utilities. This was achieved through pre-installation meetings and design assist workshops. Finally, due to the uniqueness of mass timber in the state, the contractor and subcontractors had very little historical data to gauge cost. The design team was able to work with the engineers and manufacturers to ensure cost effectiveness and even compete with the cost of a steel alternate system.

The mass timber elements required 24 acres of harvested southern yellow pine. This was the second building in the country to utilize southern yellow pine in a mass timber assembly and the first building manufactured from southern yellow pine CLT east of the Mississippi River. The progressing popularity of mass timber is rooted in its powerful impact on sustainability. Building with timber can reduce the overall carbon footprint of a structure, unlike steel and concrete.

The project had an immediate and transformational impact by attracting students from the main campus to the Snow Family Outdoor Recreation Complex at Lake Hartwell, located across from the main campus. Despite Clemson’s generous resources for outdoor recreation, these resources were not previously common knowledge among students. Initially, the outdoor recreation facilities were located in an old pig barn, making it difficult to transport equipment, such as paddleboards and canoes, to the lake for use. Further, the previous facility was dark and small, making it intimidating for students interested yet unfamiliar with outdoor activities to seek guidance. With the Center constructed and amenities powerfully apparent and on display, students can now find inviting spaces to engage in intramural sports, hang out at the lakefront, or engage in outdoor recreation.

The Center’s design was driven by the University’s vision for a high-performance building, with renewable materials and net-zero ready capabilities. The building orientation, overhangs, wall composition, and mechanical systems all played an important role in setting the project up for net-zero. Cross-laminated timber floors, roof, and shear walls are featured throughout the building, and the beams and framing consist of glue-laminated timber systems. These features achieved sustainable and structural objectives, while also providing a unique aesthetic for the building.