The Hyalite Pavilion Design/Build Project was a collaborative effort between Montana State University and Bruce Wrightsman from 2008-2010. Students designed and built a pavilion at the Hyalite Reservoir day use area through an iterative process of design, prototyping, testing and redesign. The project involved developing construction techniques and tooling to build the pavilion using local stone in remote conditions. The final pavilion was completed in summer 2010 and won an AIA Montana Honor Design award for its attention to craft and detail.

1. Hyalite Pavilion Design/Build ProjectHyalite Pavilion Design/Build Project
Montana State University 2008-10Montana State University 2008-10
Bruce Wrightsman, Assistant ProfessorBruce Wrightsman, Assistant Professor

4. Site: Day-use area Hyalite Reservoir

6. to make a visit to Hyalite Pavilion ato make a visit to Hyalite Pavilion a
legible experience—one that helpslegible experience—one that helps
people understand the forces ofpeople understand the forces of
ecology and the nature of theecology and the nature of the
landscape through the architecture.landscape through the architecture.

7. Project started in the fall of 2008 and completed in Summer of 2010
design and
research prototyping field testing
Fall 2008 471 (program)
Spring 2009 525 (stone) 525
Summer 2009 551/458 551/458
Fall 2010 471 (site)
Spring 2010 525 (site design)
Summer 2010 525 (fabricate 471 fall_2010)
Spring 2011 471 (redesign of barbeque lids)
471 = independent research project
525 = graduate seminar
551/458 graduate/undergraduate split studio
Hyalite Pavilion: Iterative schedule of experiments
testing
feedback
feedback

8. Versioning: required rethinking the design process in terms of
procedure and outcome. A non-linear process where versions are
created, and then interrogated on series of criteria, and new versions
emerge that are superior to the previous iteration.

12. R e m o t e n e s s

14. Understand the limits…

15. At the site, the interface between materials and technique are
problematic, and their interface can itself become a design
element.
Students developed an ethos of making through the physical
engagement of materials and methods.

16. Feedback Loop: Creating prototypes
Prototype 1
Final Prototype

17. Summer 2010
Final Installation: railing and cap

18. BENCHPLAN
0'-0"
1'-6"
1' - 6"
1' - 2 1/4"
0' - 0 1/2"
0'-2"
0'-33/4"
0'-113/16"
1'-0"
0'-01/4"
0'-11/2"0'-01/2"
0' - 0 3/8"
0' - 3 3/4"
Section of bench prototype
ARCH 471 – Fall 2009
final bench prototype
summer 2010

20. Jig for making base plate cuts
Jig for making
Sonotube footings
Rebar footing cage
mock-up
Testing footing setup at site
Tooling: The process of providing a factory with
machinery in preparation for production. The
making of a ‘tool’ that will allow you to mass-
produce a part
• Often creating machines, jigs and templates

21. Respect what you can not see …

27. Testing footing setup at site

28. IT WORKED !

32. Every stone has a home... Sometimes you have the wrong stone

42. Deliberate slowness…

53. The project won a 2010 AIA Montana Honor Design award.
The jury noted the reason was the attention to craft and
detail.

56. Hyalite Pavilion Design/Build ProjectHyalite Pavilion Design/Build Project
Montana State University 2008-10Montana State University 2008-10
Bruce Wrightsman, Assistant ProfessorBruce Wrightsman, Assistant Professor