Tucked into the hillside of Mount Oread, the Sensory Garden is a beloved space for the Audio-Reader Network, designed to awaken and engage the senses. Fragrant herbs and vibrant flowers fill raised beds accessible to all, while soft-textured plants like Lamb’s Ear intermingle with the scents of mint and lavender. Wind chimes and birdsong provide a gentle auditory backdrop, and a winding brick path leads from the main building through the garden to its shaded corner—once home to a deteriorating gazebo.

In response, Dirt Works Studio designed the Sensory Pavilion, a new structure that honors the garden’s intent while providing a lasting, immersive experience. The pavilion features a compacted earth floor; three low rammed earth walls and a nine-foot-tall rammed earth column; a charred cedar screen wall; built-in cedar benches; and a mass timber roof clad in powder-coated steel shingles. All elements interlock: benches connect seamlessly with the screen and earth walls, which tie into the overhead structure.

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by the crunch of gravel, the earthy scent of rammed earth, and the smoky aroma of charred wood. The contrasting textures and temperatures of the materials heighten the sensory experience, while dappled light dances beneath the descending canopy. The cedar screen filters views of the garden and softens sunlight, while diagonal steel rods add rhythm and support the cantilevered roof.

The Sensory Pavilion is more than a replacement—it’s a sculptural extension of the garden itself, offering a place of rest, reflection, and connection with the natural world.