About 50 people have touched the project in some way since fall 2019. At that time, the idea was simply to cover a water pump by a pond at Silo City. Photo: Douglas Levere

The goal shifted to designing and building an architectural intervention that would contribute to the ongoing effort to regenerate Silo City’s post-industrial landscape. Photo: Douglas Levere

“After three semesters of design, revision and construction, the final vision still has yet to be achieved, but the structure is complete,” says Mitchel Mesi, a graduate student in this fall’s studio. Photo: Douglas Levere

From the beginning, the project has been about integrating architecture and nature, creating an infrastructure for habitat and putting growth on display, Elizabeth Gilman, an architecture master’s student, explains. Photo: Douglas Levere

The work centers on a 60-foot-diameter trellis composed of stainless steel viper tubing manufactured by Rigidized Metals. Photo: Douglas Levere

School of Architecture and Planning faculty and students have collaborated with Rigidized Metals on numerous projects at Silo City over the years. Photo: Douglas Levere

To ensure everyone’s safety and reduce the number of people on site, architecture professor Nicholas Rajkovich had the students work in teams, alternating days at Silo City. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

The trellis will train the branches of willow trees planted beneath to form a canopied natural gathering space. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

Over time, the willows will intertwine and graft together to become a single structure. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

A secondary piece of the course included creating a field guide mapping the ecology of Silo City, including mammals, soil, water, ectotherms and invertebrates. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

The view from the ground as a studio member connects stainless steel tubing. Photo: Douglas Levere

Aerial view of the structure and the site of the project at Silo City. Photo: Mark Adams and Douglas Levere