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In late May, five School of Architecture students traveled to in Clermont, Kentucky, where they joined School of Architecture faculty member to construct 10⁶ (Ten to the Power of Six), an immersive mirrored pavilion that transforms visitors and the surrounding landscape into an infinite series of reflections.

Constructed over a four-day period between May 28 and June 6, the project offered students a rare opportunity to participate in the realization of a full-scale architectural installation, engaging directly with fabrication, construction and on-site problem-solving.

Participating students were Alexander Barney ’26, Clark Dong ’27, Grace Hong ’26, Gia Lettieri ’27 and Nicole Trubsky ’27, alongside Riley Wines ’26, a student collaborator from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning.

The pavilion was selected through a competitive open-call process organized by Bernheim Forest and Arboretum’s initiative, which commissions immersive outdoor installations exploring the relationship between people, nature and the built environment. More than 160 proposals were submitted for consideration, with 10⁶ selected as one of only two projects chosen for construction.

“10⁶ exemplifies what we hope to achieve through L+A+N+D by bringing together innovative design, environmental awareness and public engagement,” says Jenny Zeller, curator of the L+A+N+D program. “Beyond creating a remarkable visitor experience, the project has provided Syracuse Architecture students with the rare opportunity to take a design from concept to a full-scale installation within a living landscape.”

The title 10⁶ references founder Isaac W. Bernheim’s vision for the forest as a place with “a million things to see and do.” Reflecting that history, the pavilion’s mirrored interior creates an immersive environment that blurs the boundaries between visitor, landscape and reflection.

“The name is a direct response to this history, and so is the pavilion,” says Erar. “The interior is clad in mirrors on all sides, acting as an infinity room and multiplying the image of visitors by a million, just like the offerings of nature in the forest.”

Built Without a Single Nail

The project also served as a testing ground for Erar’s research into construction methodologies. Constructed from flat-packed, CNC-milled plywood components, 10⁶ was assembled on site using a custom joinery system that relies on wooden pegs rather than metal hardware.

Early prototyping and milling tests were conducted in Slocum Hall with student research assistant Clark Dong, while the pavilion’s components were prefabricated in Syracuse and Ithaca before being transported to Kentucky for installation.

Designed for a four-day assembly, the reversible system minimized site disturbance while limiting the need for power tools, creating a quieter construction process responsive to the surrounding forest.

“Being part of both the fabrication and build team was a rewarding experience because it allowed me to apply the theoretical knowledge I gained through years of studio in a practical setting,” says Dong. “From early prototyping and fabrication through the final installation, I gained a much deeper understanding of how architectural ideas become built reality.”

The project also reflected Erar’s approach to teaching, which treats the construction site as an extension of the classroom.

A Classroom in the Forest

“I view the construction site as an extension of my classroom, where typical classroom structures and hierarchies are dissolved to make way for a more democratic, collaborative learning environment,” says Erar. “I see my students as collaborators as we problem-solve and troubleshoot collectively on the building site.”

For Lettieri, the experience bridged the gap between design and construction.

“My studio experience with Professor Erar helped me develop a strong foundation in design detailing, but I wanted to better understand the construction side of architecture,” says Lettieri. “Working on 10⁶ gave me the opportunity to help build a project at full scale. The biggest lesson I learned was the importance of being flexible and adapting when things don’t go as planned.”

The experience also challenged students to reconsider the relationship between design and construction.

“Working on 10⁶ showed me the importance of prototyping, iteration and adaptability when moving from design to construction,” says Barney. “In school, we spend so much time designing structures on a computer, where every measurement aligns perfectly. Building a structure intended to exist outdoors rewrites that process and forces you to respond to the realities of the physical world.”

As part of Bernheim’s expanding L+A+N+D collection, the pavilion joins a series of site-responsive installations that invite visitors to experience the forest through art, architecture and design.