More than 125 timber framers from around the country and across the world gathered in Lexington last week to help raise the roof on Project Horizon’s new community pavilion.
Tucked between New Hope Church of God in Christ and Project Horizon’s children’s center on Varner Lane, the openair structure is the latest example of the lengths to which the 44-year-old organization will go to expand its mission.
Founded and dedicated to addressing domestic and sexual violence, Project Horizon also serves as a critical resource for a variety of underserved populations. When the pavilion is put into service, it will be available as a gathering space both for Project Horizon as well as for events hosted by outside groups.
“It’s important to our mission to make Project Horizon stand for something more than just a place people go when they’re afraid,” said Executive Director Judy Casteele. “Our outreach is much wider than that. And having a community space built in this communal way is just perfect.”
The pavilion project is a case study in leverage and force multiplication – not just of materials, but of people. Virginia Military Institute cadets designed the 24foot by 42-foot structure, local businesses donated materials for it, veteran timber framers coordinated the off-site prep of the massive timbers, generous neighbors hosted visiting laborers, downtown churches fed the workers, and spectators strolled by to witness the astonishing sight of the pavilion being assembled in the span of a single day on March 31.
Jackson Dubois, executive director of the national Timber Framers Guild, said there is a reason scores of people vie for the opportunity to come to a small town in Virginia to be part of the five-day project – and happily pay for the privilege, to boot.
“We’ve got folks here from timber framing groups and building arts schools in New Hampshire, Michigan, Vermont, North Carolina, California, Canada – and two guys on their second trip here from Estonia,” he said. “Sure, it’s a chance for everyone to learn a lot about the craft while they’re here. But the real reward is that sense of exuberant camaraderie on a project like this. The feeling of ‘we’re all in it and doing it together.’” Added Sissily Harrell, an architect from Meadows of Danwho participated as an instructor for the project, “For me, it’s as simple as: I get to build something cool with my friends. It’s hard, but it’s so worth it.”
During a bountiful lunch of fried chicken and baked potatoes with all the fixings provided by Lexington Presbyterian Church, VMI 1st Class cadet Dylan Staples shared his feelings about his role in the project. Staples, along with fellow cadet Dylan Dunham, created the winning design for the pavilion during his wood engineering class last fall, edging out four other proposals.
“I came to VMI from Chesapeake not knowing anything at all about this place,” he said. “So it feels awesome to be able to give back to Lexington in this way.”
Local project leaders Cindy and Grigg Mullen have been doing timber framing projects like this for decades. The Project Horizon pavilion marks the pair’s 52nd construction. Cindy coordinates the housing and the meals, while Grigg – a former VMI professor who has guided a generation of budding timber framers – oversees the days of preassembly work on the pair’s Kerrs Creek property.
“Twenty or 30 percent of the people working on the build come as amateurs, new to all this,” said Grigg, as he watched as a team raised another beam into place on Tuesday of last week. “Today they get to understand why people have been hovering over them for four days nagging about 1/32nd of an inch measurements. Today is the day the magic happens.”
Casteele said, “Since 1984, people in the Rockbridge community and beyond have understood the mission of Project Horizon and have stepped up as vital partners. Many hands came together to donate supplies, build the frame and house and feed the timber framers. We are grateful to everyone who made this dream a reality.”
Editor’s note: This story was written by Stephanie Wilkinson for Project Horizon.
