ACENDANCE PAVILLION

USC Architectural Guild Design Charrette 2025 GRACE CALDERON | JOAO G B HENRIQUES | JOSHUA BURROWS

Ascendance is a transformative architectural pavilion designed to celebrate the spirit of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics while addressing critical social needs in its second life. Crafted from sustainable CLT planks and glulam members, the pavilion embraces fluidity in both form and function. Its sweeping, unified structure fosters a combination of light and shade, offering visitors comfortable seating and viewing spaces overlooking Exposition Park.

The design’s elegant geometry and materiality symbolize upward movement and growth, aligning with its transformational legacy on Los Angeles. Beyond its initial purpose, Ascendance transitions seamlessly into a vital solution for Los Angeles’ housing crisis. The pavilion’s modular components are repurposed into compact, durable living units for the city’s homeless population, embodying a commitment to social equity and sustainability.

Through its dual purpose, Ascendance redefines how architecture can serve a community—providing an Olympic experience before transforming into a permanent and meaningful impact on urban resilience. Its innovative design and responsible reuse establish a powerful dialogue between event-based architecture and long-term societal benefits.

Site: Exposition Park

Design Guidelines: • 10 CLT blanks (5 ply, 10-15'w x 30'l) to start with • Pavillion can serve any purpose desired • No part of the deconstruction should end up in a landfill • Constructed using Mass Timber connections such that at the completion of the LA28 Games the assembly could be transported to a different site for future use