Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Stephen F. Austin State University officially unveiled the Pineywoods Dining Hall — the university’s first mass timber building and the first mass timber project in The University of Texas System — on Thursday, ushering in a new era of campus dining and welcoming both the university and Nacogdoches communities to explore the new space.
“This project is really special for a lot of reasons,” said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA President. “One, it is the first mass timber project in The University of Texas System. No other campus in the system has a building like this. And the most important part is it highlights what makes East Texas special and the unique opportunities we have as a region of our state to contribute to all of Texans and hopefully a new way of building buildings all across the country.”
Weaver described the project as a symbol of Lumberjack perseverance. He noted that the new dining facility — approved seven years ago — was shepherded with care and devotion by many, including Dr. Steve Westbrook, SFA’s 10th president; John Branch, associate vice president for facilities services and operations; and the late Dr. Baker Pattillo, SFA’s eighth president.
The 20,000-square-foot dining hall has two unique dining areas connected by a breezy open-air walkway and patio. Its design features exposed wooden beams and angled columns supporting a raised timber roof. Large windows framed in dark trim mimic the look of tall trees, while the brick exterior blends with the rest of campus architecture and adds a natural touch.
“Nacogdoches and SFA were a natural fit for such an innovative project, given the region’s deep connection to the forestry and lumber industries,” Branch said. “Beyond its beauty, this dining hall enriches students’ daily lives and serves as a living example of sustainability in practice.”
Kirksey Architecture, a renowned Texas-based interiors and architecture firm, was chosen to design the dining facility showcasing mass timber, specifically southern yellow pine. Due to its proximity to the vast Texas Forest Country, SFA selected mass timber to demonstrate how this type of wood can boost local timber landowners, timber-adjacent industries and sustainable building practices.
“As a firm dedicated to sustainability and innovation, this project highlights the benefits of mass timber while furthering the university's mission to reconnect with its roots through the state's southern yellow pine lumber industry,” said Steve Durham, Kirksey Architecture managing director of collegiate practice.
For more information about the Pineywoods Dining Hall, including photos and fun facts, visit sfasu.edu/pineywoodsdining.