COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, November 24, 2025 – Two years after its completion, the Prairie Park Pavilion—a collaborative effort between McClure’s structural engineering team and University of Kansas Architecture students—continues to inspire. The project was recently recognized with two notable awards: the Architectural Craft and Innovation Honor Award and People’s Choice Runner-Up, recognizing its creative design and sustainable approach.
Originally launched as a KU Architecture capstone project, the pavilion was designed to provide a functional, environmentally conscious space for the Prairie Park Nature Center. McClure partnered with students to deliver structural expertise, guiding them through design challenges and ensuring the pavilion’s integrity.
From the beginning, sustainability was central to the vision. The pavilion features donated and repurposed materials, including utility poles from Evergy Energy Green Team, aluminum road signs for roofing, and large stone blocks—all sourced locally. This approach not only minimized waste but also highlighted the strength of community collaboration.
Building on this sustainable foundation, McClure’s effort focused on addressing the structural challenges of analyzing the behavior of the uniquely shaped structure, considering variations in the weathered utility poles, and working with students to design steel plate connections that were structurally adequate, constructible, economical, and maintained the original architectural vision as much as possible.
The project’s success reflects the dedication of KU students under the guidance of Studio Instructor Keith Van de Riet, along with the support of numerous collaborators and consultants, including McClure, KBS Constructors, Advanced Tree Service, Coal Creek Timber Co., and others.
Receiving the Architectural Craft and Innovation Honor Award highlights the pavilion’s thoughtful design and craftsmanship, while the People’s Choice recognition speaks to its lasting impression on the community.
McClure is proud to have contributed to this award-winning project that blends creativity, sustainability, and structural excellence. These honors reaffirm our commitment to collaboration and innovation—principles we strive to bring to every project.
Project Team
Studio Instructor: Keith Van de Riet
Students: Wynn Bowden, Paige Butterfield, Naalkh DeAsis, Ashley Decker, Emily Dulle, Matthew Garrett, Emma Hamer, Sara Miranda Luzio, Christopher Monarres, Sarah Montes, Madison Simons, Alayna Thomas, Melia Whitney
Collaborators and Consultants: McClure; KBS Constructors, Inc.; Advanced Tree Service; Coal Creek Timber Co.; Evergy Energy Green Team; P1 Construction; HME, Inc.; Masters Media Blasting; Cottin’s Hardware and Rental; Karl Ramberg; AZZ Galvanizing; City of Lawrence Traffic Engineering; Hicks Classic Concrete; Native Lands Collaborative
About McClure
Founded in 1956, McClure has grown to a firm of over 280 professionals in fourteen offices. With a vision of making lives better, McClure brings engineering and development expertise with a collaborative approach to identify the best strategies and solutions to bring our client’s vision to life. We look at every project through the lens of economics by thinking, designing, and building for the future. McClure’s expertise is in guiding clients on making long-term capital investments in the areas of aviation, bridge, community development, construction observation, development, landscape architecture, structural, survey, traffic and safety, transportation, wastewater, and water.