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Allsteel partners with University of Houston to build a pavilion from recycled workstation

Allsteel pavilion

Photo by Allsteel Inc.

Allsteel Inc. is partnering with the University of Houston Graduate Design/Build team to create a first-of-its-kind, solar-powered structure out of recycled workstation panel frames. This structure will serve dual purpose as a trial study for building emergency housing in areas affected by natural disasters, including hurricanes, mudslides, and typhoons, and as an arts pavilion installed for Houston’s Hermann Park centennial celebration. The project, titled ReFRAME X FRAME, is an early contribution to Art in the Park, a collection of temporary installations to be placed around Hermann Park in 2014.

“The ReFRAME X FRAME project is an innovative and extremely unexpected way of using discarded Allsteel panel systems,” said Carole Nicholson, Houston regional architecture & design workplace manager at Allsteel. “We were eager to bring this idea to the University of Houston and work with the graduate students as they combined form and function to create a structure with far reaching possibilities.”

The pavilion is constructed from 196 workstation panel frames. The base transitional house, in concept, is 200 sq. ft. and designed to house two people. Units can be combined to create larger spaces for families, community centers and educational facilities. Allsteel’s panel frames are also used as sleeping areas or table surfaces. The ReFRAME transitional house includes storage space, workspace, community space, and sleeping space.

“As often is the case, workplaces outgrow or replace workstations with the growth or shrinking of personnel. Once replaced, those units often end up in storage or a landfill,” added Patrick Peters, director, Graduate Design/Build Studio at the University of Houston. “While the project allows us to help celebrate an important park, it also offers the possibility of doing good on a global level, with old cube components.”

For more information, please visit http://www.allsteeloffice.com.