Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts (PRAx) is an inspired social hub for Oregon State University’s performance program.

Photos: Christian Columbres

What was once an empty, paved lot on the edge of Oregon State University’s Corvallis campus is now a vibrant arts center—part performance venue, part cultural gateway, and part interdisciplinary hub. The brief called for a facility to house a 500-seat recital hall, a black box theater, a gallery, and dynamic public and learning spaces—each designed to support student experimentation and crossdisciplinary collaboration.

Holst Architecture delivered. The project pairs high-performance planning and envelope strategies with a regionally grounded, visually compelling material concept, extending the university’s cultural and ecological goals into the surrounding landscape.

Shaping form through finish

Western Red Cedar is the building’s primary exterior wood façade. The design uses a deliberate composition of tones, grades, and moments of emphasis to shape the building into a stunning sculptural form.

Finish selection was approached as a design tool, making the most of Cedar’s innate ability to hold a wide range of finishes beautifully. For this project, Holst customized blend of mocha and ebony for the dark-stained volume. It’s a combination that allows the cedar’s texture and grain to remain visible through the finish. A lighter pine-tinted stain was used on the natural-toned cedar, emphasizing warmth and tonal variation.

“The dark-stained wood exterior shell lifts and folds around the building’s primary circulation path,” explains Dustin Furseth, Holst Senior Associate. “And then cut into this volume reveal is a vibrant, naturally toned cedar that marks the main entrances, highlights the ‘dancing windows’, and marks special moments on the exterior, providing a transition to the warmer-toned wood of the interior spaces.”

Refinement in Key Moments, Resilience Everywhere

Grade selection reinforced this approach. For the dark-stained shell, the team chose tight-knot cedar to balance durability, efficiency, and texture. Clear cedar was reserved for soffits, recessed entries, and carved-in window inlays — areas of higher visibility and refinement.

That same level of intent extended to durability. The siding had to meet the demands of a high-traffic, community facility.  It also needed to stand up to the region’s wet winters.

“The team prioritized materials that withstand heavy public use while requiring minimal maintenance,” notes Holst Principal/Owner Kim Wilson, “ensuring the building remains beautiful and functional for decades.”

Real Cedar Specifications

GRADE – Façade: KD Select Knotty, Soffits/Trim: ‘C’ and Better Clear

SIZE – Façade: 5/4×6 T&G, Soffits – 5/4×4 T&G Trim: 5/4×3 Trim Boards

FASTENING – Stainless steel

APPLIED FINISH – Semi-transparent, wood tone

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Download the digital edition. Or order a free hard copy of Cedar Book XVIII to explore the latest in contemporary wood design.