Shade, in the Houston summer, is almost as great a necessity as water or air. Thus,  the open air pavilion is a common and welcome sight throughout the urban landscape.  For Generation Park (a new mixed use development located near Lake Houston)  McCord Development, imagined a pavilion that would be active throughout the day as a sophisticated and whimsical landmark where residents and office workers can gather for coffee or lunch. Then in the evening the pavilion becomes a destination for live performances and concerts before a grassy, sprawling lawn.

The canopy of undulating steel and supple wood perches atop a minimal cluster of slender columns, keeping the stage open for seating and bands alike. The form of the primary structure for the canopy was developed from a study of gravitational forces and their resulting structural diagram. We tailored these results to produce a trim, efficient  structural system that cantilevers effortlessly over a cobbled stone stage.

Stage lighting and speakers can be mounted, powered and controlled through a fully integrated theatrical system concealed above the wood soffit and down the columns. This seamless coordination of multiple complex systems was accomplished through our expertise in digital design and pre-fabrication. This pavilion exemplifies our belief that a deep understanding and fascination in the way our designs our crafted produces elegant and timeless solutions.