RADIUS ResourceXchange Center

In the heart of the arid desert landscape, the ‘RADIUS’ RXC Labratory stands as a beacon of sustainable innovation and cultural appreciation within the Menlo Park region. The ambitious goal of the project was to combine a radial grid design with a mass-timber structure, as the original inspiration comes from historic pit houses that used to be a common architectural form by the native Tohono O’odham tribe. The structure’s complexity came through careful modeling, showing an appealing “S” shape with two rounded facades on the North and South sides. Extensive simulations were used to test the strength and viability of the frame structure, revealing both the possibilites and challenges of combining circular grid plans with mass timber.

The ‘RADIUS’ RXC Laboratory is the ideal illustration of sustainable design because it combines new ideas, flexibility, and living in harmony with nature. It represents an all-encompassing approach to design, pushing for a future where buildings change, grow, and live together with their surroundings in a way that benefits both.