David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard University

Part of the first phase of Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus, the Rubenstein Treehouse provides dedicated event space and meeting amenities for Harvard affiliates, the community, academia, and industry and business leaders from around the globe. The design’s carved form opens up a variety of shaded outdoor gathering areas on multiple sides to extend the campus’ public realm. Three ground level entrances connect to a double-height atrium, welcoming visitors and allowing them to seamlessly flow through the building to the surrounding campus. The atrium spills outward onto two covered porches (loggia) that can be enjoyed throughout the year.

The building’s two upper floors support meetings and events. Evoking the wonder and excitement of climbing up into a treehouse, a central stair—lit by skylights from above—wraps around two free-standing elevators, immersing guests in the natural warmth of the building’s mass timber structure. Branching outward like a tree to support the main conference space, the Canopy Hall, the building’s columns frame great views of the surrounding treetops and the campus and city beyond.

The building’s exposed structure, from the concrete that uses ground glass pozzolan (as a low-embodied carbon cement replacement) to the sustainably harvested mass timber expressed inside and on the facade, reinforces the Rubenstein Treehouse’s identity as a hub for innovation. Informal spaces that encourage convening and interaction are designed into every floor, such as the level-two “perch” overlooking the atrium, and the level-three pre-function area that connects to a long, open-air terrace—giving visitors the feeling of being “up in the canopy.”

Early, coordinated commitment to Harvard’s ambitious climate action and healthier materials goals, as well as Living Building Challenge certifications, has set a precedent for future campus projects. Additional energy and carbon reduction strategies include a high-performance façade, ample natural light, rooftop PV panels, and heating and cooling systems connected to the campus-wide district energy facility. A raised floor efficiently conditions the interior while concealing major building systems.

Creating a vibrant and engaging environment year-round, the biodiverse landscape also offers attractive habitat for wildlife, and its bioswales work in combination with a rooftop collection system to retain and reuse rainwater. In the project’s efforts to make the best use of earth’s resources—including sharing the joyful feeling of inhabiting the treetops—the Rubenstein Treehouse convenes a future that reaches well beyond its site.