A new timber pavilion made from reclaimed wood has opened in Millennium Park as part of the 2025 Chicago Architecture Biennial. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Re-SPLAM demonstrates how material reuse and innovative design can offer a low-carbon alternative to conventional construction. The 16-by-20-foot canopy serves as a proof of concept for a structural system made entirely from upcycled wood, delivering the performance of conventional reinforced concrete slabs at just one-fifth the weight.
“Re-SPLAM challenges the assumption that salvaged wood is fit only for decoration or disposal,” said Scott Duncan, Design Partner, SOM. “By stacking readily available two-by-four framing into a three-dimensional canopy, we’re demonstrating how innovative design and engineering can extend the life of these materials while conserving their carbon-sequestering benefits.”
The pavilion features reclaimed two-by-four planks from homes across Chicago, showcasing how material variability can be embraced through thoughtful design. Developed with students from Washington University in St. Louis and constructed by Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council and Norcon, the installation highlights innovative structural design driven by computational tools.
“As we mark the Biennialโs tenth year, Re-SPLAM exemplifies the kind of innovative work that has defined our legacy,” said Sarah Herda, Biennial Co-Chair and Director of the Graham Foundation.
The installation embodies this yearโs theme, SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change, demonstrating how reclaimed materials can drive new spatial and structural possibilities.
Image Courtesy: SOM
