Fallen to Functional: Community Spaces from Campus Wood Waste

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Project Basics

Project Sponsor: UC Berkeley Wood Lab

Awarded: $4,850.00

Grant Awarded: Fall 2025

Project Status: Complete

Project Description 

A) Jack Van Thyne
B) Fallen to Functional: Community Spaces from Campus Wood Waste is a design-build project that turns fallen campus trees into outdoor furniture for student gathering spaces. The project offers a more sustainable and locally sourced alternative to the plastic and metal benches typically purchased from third-party suppliers.
By reusing wood that would otherwise be discarded, the project reduces waste, lowers environmental impact, and highlights UC Berkeley’s natural landscape. Each piece will include a small plaque describing where the tree came from and its story, helping connect students to the land and the people who care for it.
This project aims to create spaces that bring the community together while showing how thoughtful, local design can strengthen both environmental and social connections on campus.
C) https://jackvanthyne.org/FallentoFunctional.html#overview

Project Links 

Project Application

Project Poster

Topics

Theme: Waste Diversion & Reduction topic page, Department Sponsor topic page, Mini Projects (<$5K) topic page, Fall Mini-Grants topic page, Completed Projects topic page

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