If you’ve been around campus lately, you might have spotted a white canopy floating behind Avery. Some reception with free food? An information tent for highschoolers on their college tour? Oh, no. It’s a pavilion for a public, composting toilet. Meet Bob.

Bob the Pavilion (affectionately named for its “gentle undulation”) is the brainchild of a team of architecture students who aimed to “recast a space of seclusion as open and engaged with the city.” The pavilion stays puffy through fan-assisted ventilation of the composting toilet, which is to say, if Bob is undulating, it’s probably because you’re “going.”

Except that Facilities aborted the team’s plan, citing concern for the potential stink, legality of the installation, and possibility of a leak. While the toilet is still there, it is for display purposes only.

via Archinet

via Bob the Pavilion

Just as the War on Fun rages on, so too does the War on Relieving Yourself Behind Avery. However, Bob will still be hosting a couple of events before it closes on July 25th.

Get to know Bob.