Projects
Caltech’s Pergola and Community Garden
Project Info
LOCATION
Pasadena, California
STATUS
Completed in 2012
SIZE
N/A
ROLE
Architect
MARKET
Higher Education
EXPERTISE
Architecture
Ever-growing community space for plants and people alike
In 2012, Caltech commissioned the design and documentation for a pergola, outdoor garden, and secure bicycle storage structure on campus. RACAIA approached the project as an opportunity to transform an underutilized site into a connective landscape—one that not only links adjacent campus zones, but also fosters a sense of community, wellness, and informal learning.
The design establishes a relaxed, human-scaled outdoor environment anchored by a lightweight pergola structure that provides shade, rhythm, and spatial identity. Integrated planting areas were developed to support student-led gardening initiatives, allowing the space to evolve organically over time as a living, participatory landscape. This adaptability was central to the project’s vision—creating a framework rather than a fixed outcome, where growth and change are part of the design itself.
Material selections and layout strategies were intentionally simple and durable, supporting long-term use while maintaining a cohesive relationship with the surrounding campus architecture. The addition of secure bicycle storage further reinforces the site’s role as an active, everyday destination, encouraging sustainable mobility and increased student engagement.
Through a careful balance of structure, landscape, and program, the project transforms a once-empty site into a vibrant campus asset—one that continues to grow alongside its users, both environmentally and socially.