Guided by a long-range vision of sustainable planning and design, the Pavilion at Little Lake forms a central gathering place connecting UC Merced’s student housing and academic quad. Inspired by the region’s vernacular agricultural buildings, it utilizes simple materials and expressed structure for an expansive and engaging indoor-outdoor dining space.

The jury thought that the project responded well to a challenging site. The openness and scale of the building is appropriate for the campus environment while responding to the location's particular vistas. It is a project that realizes the ambitions of its strong program to provide a generous space for students.