In the mid-2000s the City of Dallas began a program of adding new shelter pavilions to the public parks. A number of architects from the city and beyond were invited to each design one of the pavilions. This project is located in Ridgewood Park in the East Dallas neighborhood.

Called for in the program was an easily accessible and very visible shelter structure to provide shade and rain protection for the park’s users. Also included was a paved surface with a series of elements producing jets of water for recreational use—called a ‘spray-ground.’ The budget was very limited.

The Ridgewood pavilion is located near Trammell Drive for easy access and helps fill a gap between shade trees. It is adjacent to existing playground equipment to accommodate parents supervising young children. The ‘spray-ground’ is just to the south of the structure in full sun.

The pavilion consists of a plane ‘folded’ several times and supported by round steel columns. These carry a perimeter ring of steel tubing as the primary structure, spanned with conventional wood framing. Bleached wood lines the underside of the roof assembly.