PROJECT Tectonia Botanicus

PROJECT SITE Bowie, Maryland, USA

PROJECT CATEGORY  AIA Potomac Valley Student Design Awards

Entrant: Peter Vawdrey

Team Members:
School: University of Maryland
Professor: Brittany Williams, AIA

Project Type:

Date of Completion: 12/15/2026
 

Studio Prompt: A local community-based organization seeks to build a forest-to-table event space and education center on their property in Bowie, Maryland.

The organization’s mission is to:

Advance forest agriculture, so forests and people thrive together.

The 37 acre site consists of an edible ecosystem forest garden, a natural forest, and a large field that is dedicated to the harvest of corn.

The new building will serve as a threshold to the forest garden, offering both conditioned and unconditioned spaces indoors and outdoors. These areas will be used for preparing and serving meals crafted with ingredients harvested directly from the site. The project has a modest budget that requires a light touch and gentle site intervention.

Volunteer support and community engagement are essential to sustaining the operations of the organization. To celebrate their work and to spread awareness of their mission, the organization invites the community to their signature event, the Forest Feast. This forest-to-table event takes place monthly, as weather conditions permit, in their outdoor forest dining room.

While this setting will continue to serve as the primary setting for this event, the organization seeks to build an event and education center to expand their ability to provide year-round programming and events.
 

Project Summary: Tectonia Botanicus is an event and education center designed for Forested LLC, a permaculture farm in Bowie, Maryland. Situated within a 37-acre landscape of forest gardens, cultivated fields, and natural woodland, the project expands the farm’s ability to host community gatherings, educational programs, and forest-to-table events throughout the year.

The design explores the relationship between architecture, agriculture, and landscape through the contrast of tectonic and stereotomic construction. A heavy concrete base is embedded into the sloping site, grounding the building within the earth, while an expressive mass-timber structure rises above it. Like a tree rooted in the ground, the lighter timber volume emerges from its stereotomic foundation and extends toward the surrounding forest canopy.

Drawing inspiration from agrarian buildings and botanical conservatories, the architecture uses exposed glulam framing, timber trusses, charred wood cladding, and expansive glazing to create a contemporary interpretation of agricultural construction. The building is positioned along the existing tree line, establishing a threshold between cultivated farmland and forest while framing views toward a clearing beyond.

A large event hall forms the center of the project, supported by spaces for food preparation, culinary and agricultural education, and gathering. Food harvested directly from the surrounding landscape can be prepared, taught, and shared within the building.

Through its integration of landscape, structure, material, and program, Tectonia Botanicus creates an architecture rooted in the same principles of interdependence, sustainability, and connection to the land that define the farm itself.

Jury Comments (if applicable): 

The judges praised the project’s strong architectural concept, thoughtful design, and compelling integration of timber structure, materiality, landscape, and sustainability. The structural system was particularly successful in serving as an integral architectural element rather than simply supporting the design. The project was considered visually appealing, well-developed, and potentially feasible.

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD

Project PDF

Project Narrative (AIAPV)
Design Panel Project PDF (AIAPV)