Architecture students bring parametric design to life for 18th Sukkah Build

Septemebr 25, 2026

by Rawad Nahhas

For Sophia Atkins, a student in the Tulane University School of Architecture and Built Environment , the 18th annual Sukkah Build was more than a design exercise, it was a chance to push the boundaries of what a temporary structure could be.

The Sukkah Build is a student-driven project in which architecture students use their skills and imagination to design and construct a sukkah, a temporary open-air hut central to Sukkot, a week-long Jewish holiday celebrating the fall harvest. Each year, those observing the holiday gather beneath the structure to dine, celebrate and, in some cases, even sleep.

This year's team drew inspiration from the work that came before them. "We wanted to continue our exploration of wood notching from the previous Sukkah Build project and apply our knowledge of parametric design that we have acquired from the design media courses here at Tulane," said Atkins. "We wanted a variable element that would change the apertures of the wall as you walk by it — an element designed to tie in to the bench that acts as the base of the wall."

The result is a striking structure that pairs a dynamic, parametric wall system with a built-in bench and a woven rope roof stretched between two L-shaped walls. The design is at once architectural and intimate, inviting visitors to experience the sukkah differently depending on where they stand.

Much of the fabrication work took place at the Millhaus, where the team partnered closely with staff to process the wood. "All the wood was mostly cut with the CNC machine at the Millhaus; some elements were cut with a miter and table saw," said Atkins. "All pieces were sanded with palm sanders and then stained with brushes." Once components were ready, they were moved to the woodshop for finishing before assembly began in earnest in the final week of the project.

Watching the vision materialize, piece by piece, was the most rewarding part of the process, Atkins said.

The best part of building the structure was seeing the entire parametric design come together as we built more of the modules. The monumentality of it became more apparent each day of assembly.

After the holiday concludes, the sukkah will not simply be dismantled. "We plan to donate the structure to a community organization in need of additional seating," said Atkins. "We are still open to negotiating where the structure will find its final home." In that way, the project extends its reach well beyond the Tulane campus — leaving behind not just a memory, but something people can sit with for years to come.

This project was a collaborative work by Sophia Atkins, Miguel Alvarez, Dahlia Crane, Kristina Hoang, Jace Janvier, Harmon Kerrison, Taluhla Levin, Sam Lucio, Nathaniel Maddalene, Kat Rausch, Jillian Spiegel, Matt Stillwell, Eddie Torres, Gabi Traum, and Alex Trapanese

View more photos on our Flickr account.