Pennsylvania State University "Overlook Pavilion" at the Arboretum

The Overlook Pavilion’s main purpose is to create distinct exterior spaces and house services for the Arboretum. It is comprised of two stone volumes that are tied together with a soaring roof structure and exterior porches made of steel and wood. The stone volumes contain public restrooms, volunteer offices, tool storage and mechanical spaces, while the roof structure and porches create a variety of outdoor areas and terraces to allow people to gather in small groups or for events accommodating up to 200 guests. It sits on the Arboretum’s highest point, acting as the link between the botanical gardens and event lawn to the south and the natural landscape and watershed to the north.

Currently seeking LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the Overlook Pavilion uses efficient geothermal ground source heat pumps for heating and cooling, utilizes local and recycled content materials, contains a reflective roof to reduce the heat island affect, and employs an innovative stormwater management system to educate visitors while using the collected water on site. These “green” systems support the overall sustainable strategy of decreasing the impact of the structure by reducing enclosed conditioned program space and by providing visitors and staff comfortable exterior space.

Another benefit of the Overlook Pavilion is that its exterior spaces can be used throughout the year, utilizing natural ventilation (to block severe winter wind and/or rain) and shade protection (to block the sun). The structure of the building also shapes the visitor experience and protects the visitor from undesirable site impacts. By eliminating these distractions, it helps visitors focus on the Arboretum message.

ABOUT OVERLAND PARTNERS

Overland Partners Architects, founded in 1987 in San Antonio, Texas, is a realization of a vision to bring together a wide range of talents in architecture and planning, in order to provide comprehensive design services.  Sensitive to the environmental and aesthetic contexts of their projects, the firm strives for a thoughtful integration of technology, art, and craft through highly sustainable solutions.  Overland Partners Architects offers its clients the ultimate goal of creating a beautiful, functional and enduring design through a process that inspires long-term relationships and is rewarding to the entire project team.  For more information, visit www.overlandpartners.com.