Harvard University has opened its first mass timber building, the David Rubenstein Treehouse, designed by Chicago-based Studio Gang with inspiration drawn directly from tree architecture. The 55,000-square-foot facility features a distinctive design where timber bracing fronts the glazing and the building's mass expands as it rises upward, creating a tree-like silhouette. Inside, wooden columns are positioned in an arboreal stance, making the building's name particularly fitting.
The innovative structure was completed as part of Harvard University's new Enterprise Research Campus (ERC) in Allston, Massachusetts. This ambitious development aims to transform a previously vacant industrial site into a comprehensive hub for learning, living, and working. Studio Gang collaborated on the master plan with international partners including Henning Larsen, SCAPE, and Utile to create this transformative campus.
Sustainability was a central driving force behind the building's design and construction. Studio Gang's decision to use timber both inside and outside the structure was part of a broader campus-wide initiative to create environmentally responsible buildings. According to the architecture firm, the use of low-carbon materials—specifically responsibly sourced wood and cement made from recycled glass—resulted in the building's embodied carbon being 55 percent less than a similar building constructed with conventional materials.
The David Rubenstein Treehouse follows a growing trend among recently completed university projects that emphasize heavy use of mass timber and flexible programming. This approach mirrors other notable projects including the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, also designed by Studio Gang, and the Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Material Innovation at the University of Arkansas by Grafton Architects.
Like its predecessors, Studio Gang's design features a spectacular double-height atrium completely encased in timber. A mezzanine level wraps around this central lobby, which serves as the primary circulation hub for accessing different areas throughout the building. The central staircase, constructed with timber treads and complemented by metal railings, branches out in different directions at the second- and third-floor landings. Meeting rooms and flexible event spaces are strategically located on the upper floors, with terraces providing outdoor gathering areas.
"As a Harvard alumna and faculty member, it's so rewarding to have the opportunity to help define a new chapter for Harvard's campus," said Jeanne Gang, founder of Studio Gang and professor at Harvard Graduate School of Design. "The Rubenstein Treehouse is a building that opens itself up, welcomes all people, and serves as a visual and programmatic anchor to the ERC."
The commitment to environmental and health consciousness extended far beyond material selection. Solar panels installed on the roof provide power for the building, while rainwater collection and reuse systems contribute to water conservation efforts. Interior finishes and furniture were specifically chosen to be free of polyfluoroalkyl substances, supporting healthier indoor environments for occupants.
The building has successfully achieved Harvard's Healthier Building Academy goals and is currently targeting both Living Building Challenge (LBC) Core Certification and LBC Petal Certification. These certifications represent some of the most rigorous environmental and sustainability standards in the construction industry.
Studio Gang's involvement in the Enterprise Research Campus extends beyond the David Rubenstein Treehouse. The firm is also designing One Milestone West, a laboratory and research facility planned for the same development. Other prominent architects are contributing to the campus as well, with MVRDV designing a residential complex and Marlon Blackwell Architects working on a hotel project. MVRDV's residential building is expected to complete soon, with an anticipated opening in late 2025 or early 2026, further expanding this innovative academic and research community.
