Carnival Pavilion

In partnership with the Architectural Crafts Collective (ACC), this course focuses on the design and planning of the 2026 CMU Spring Carnival Gateway Pavilion. Carnival — an over 100-year-old tradition at CMU — transforms our historic campus into an impromptu urban ecosystem each spring. The course guides students through the complete process of designing, building and documenting a gateway structure to serve as the entrance to Carnival.

Furthermore, this year’s course explores the potential for the pavilion to take on a second life as a public art installation off campus, with an emphasis on interactive and participatory design strategies. In line with the ACC’s mission, the design and construction process will prioritize experimentation and material "craft" while remaining inclusive of participants across all skill levels.