Stephen F. Austin State University has officially unveiled the Pineywoods Dining Hall, the university’s first mass timber building and the first mass timber project in The University of Texas System. Built by KDW, the 20,000-square-foot dining facility introduces a new era of campus dining while highlighting the region’s deep connection to forestry and lumber.

The facility features two dining areas joined by an open-air walkway and patio. Exposed wooden beams, angled timber columns, and a raised roof define the structure, while large dark-trimmed windows evoke the look of tall trees. The brick exterior blends seamlessly with existing campus architecture.

“This project is really special for a lot of reasons,” said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA President. “No other campus in the system has a building like this. And the most important part is it highlights what makes East Texas special and the unique opportunities we have as a region of our state to contribute to all of Texans and hopefully a new way of building buildings all across the country.”

Weaver described the dining hall as a symbol of perseverance, noting it was approved seven years ago and carefully shepherded by many, including Dr. Steve Westbrook, John Branch, and the late Dr. Baker Pattillo.

Kirksey Architecture designed the building, which showcases mass timber using southern yellow pine. The choice of material demonstrates sustainable building practices and supports local timber industries across Texas Forest Country.

“Nacogdoches and SFA were a natural fit for such an innovative project, given the region’s deep connection to the forestry and lumber industries,” said John Branch, associate vice president for facilities services and operations. “Beyond its beauty, this dining hall enriches students’ daily lives and serves as a living example of sustainability in practice.”