PICAYUNE, Miss. -- The public can gain greater appreciation for one of Mississippi’s cultural treasures during a unique exhibition.

The Unbuilt Arboretum exhibit celebrates the work of internationally renowned architect E. Fay Jones, who designed the Pinecote Pavilion that stands on the grounds of the Mississippi State University Crosby Arboretum. The pavilion is one of Jones’ most recognized structures, but Jones also designed four accompanying structures to support the day-to-day operation of the arboretum that were never built.

“I’ve spent nearly 10 years as a faculty member and landscape architecture student working with and at the Crosby Arboretum,” said Hans Herrmann, associate professor of architecture at MSU and exhibit designer, creator and organizer. “I’ve always been interested in Jones’ work, and when I saw his set of schematic drawings for the other buildings, I was astonished. I decided then that the designs had to be shared with a larger audience.”

With the help of 10 undergraduate research assistants, Herrmann set out to build a digital archive of the drawings and the exhibit. Displayed in the Giles Hall School of Architecture until April 16, the exhibit features physical and virtual-reality renderings of the unbuilt structures, along with Jones’ original drawings.

Among the unbuilt structures are the restoration center, the visitors center, the administrative building, and the Switzer Pavilion. The exhibition also features detailed models and drawings of numerous built features such as entry gates, lanterns, informational kiosks and the Pinecote Pavilion.

Jones, a native of Arkansas, won one of three esteemed American Institute of Architects Design Honor Awards for the Pinecote Pavilion. He is recognized as one of the most important American architects of the 20th century.

“I wanted to help shed light on this untold story of design and planning at the arboretum,” Herrmann said. “What better way than a public exhibit to show people this exceptionally special work of design while also bringing awareness and appreciation to the cultural treasure that is the Pinecote Pavilion.”

The exhibit is supported and funded by the Criss Trust Award, the MSU School of Architecture, and the MSU Office of Research and Economic Development Undergraduate Research Support Program.

For more information, visit http://caad.msstate.edu/wpmu/unbuiltarboretum/.