Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts is a world-renowned destination for artists working with clay. The nonprofit organization was founded in 1986 to offer residencies, workshops, educational programs, and public events to support the field of ceramic arts. Each year, over 2,000 adults and youth participate in these programs. 

In 2023, as part of their mission to bring artists together, Watershed embarked on the design and construction of a central gathering space at the heart of the 54-acre farmland property. The building would include a multipurpose meeting space, a kitchen and community dining space, a staff office, accessible restrooms, and a small apartment for guests. Watershed selected an elevated site for the building, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. 

As Design Principal at Viewshed, Eamonn collaborated with the project architect and Watershed’s leadership to design an economical landscape treatment to stitch the new building into its agrarian context. The design featured a native meadow on three sides of the building with small interstitial clearings and paved areas offering a variety of social spaces. To the south, where the topography drops away, the design included tiered gathering spaces notched into the slope for outdoor dining and community events.