The Building That Disappears: Landscape, Flexibility, and Technical Resolve at Cedar Grove Community Center

Join us on Wednesday, June 24 at Paramount FMS, for a presentation by Quinn Schwenker, Partner at Ford 3 Architects, on the design of Cedar Grove Community Center in Princeton, NJ—a project that explores how architecture can disappear into the landscape while seamlessly supporting both worship and recreation.

Do presume that food and drink will be on hand to consume in a well-appointed room.

About the Course (1 HSW)

Cedar Grove Community Center serves a residential and academic campus in Princeton, NJ, with worship as its primary use—an idea that drives every design decision.

For Christian Scientists, healing and the natural world are inseparable. The building prioritizes light, air, and uninterrupted connection to the landscape, with a floor level to the surrounding grass, a ceiling that lifts the eye outward, and materials that frame sky rather than structure. Mechanical systems are hidden within an earthen berm, allowing the architecture to recede in deference to its setting.

At the same time, the building accommodates recreation, including pickleball and basketball. Three curved glass walls and a fourth masonry wall shape views of the landscape, while independent roof overhangs modulate light. Technical solutions—from retractable hoop systems to high-performance glazing and integrated amenities—resolve the tension between worship and athletic use without visual disruption.

This course examines how a clear design intention can guide every technical decision, demonstrating that true flexibility emerges from a strong central idea. Case study materials include drawings, coordination documentation, award-winning details, specifications, and construction photography across multiple use configurations.

About the Speaker

Quinn Schwenker, AIA, LEED AP, Partner

Quinn understands the power of teamwork: First in his work as a Founding Partner of Ford 3 Architects where he collaborates with co-workers and clients, and secondly as a member of the 5-person crew that won the 2013 US National Championships in the J/24 sailboat.

“Sailing and architecture both require an attention to detail and focus. In sailing I enjoy how the different components influence each other: wind, geography, current, speed, tactics and strategy – all must be aligned to win a regatta where success is measured in seconds. With architecture, the relationship between individual design elements on a micro and macro level determines the success of the project.”

A registered architect in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and a LEED Accredited Professional, Quinn places equal emphasis on sustainability and creativity in his designs. Prior to founding Ford 3, he was a Designer and Project Manager with Ford Farewell Mills and Gatsch.

Quinn regularly competes in regional, national and international architectural competitions, and has placed in the Van Alen Young Architect Competition, Dinkeloo Competition and had entries accepted at both the Quebec Waterfront and the Princeton Architectural Press competitions.

About the Venue

Paramount FMS provides facility management and workplace support services for organizations, with a focus on workspace planning, office furniture installation, and commercial project coordination. Their team offers experience in managing office environments and implementing operational and logistical solutions for workplace projects.