Architecture

Teddy Roosevelt library will rise out of the North Dakota Badlands

View 5 Images
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will feature three pavilion areas offering choice views of the landscape
Snøhetta
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is designed to blend into the landscape
Snøhetta
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library's huge green roof will offer views over the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Little Missouri River valley, and the Elkhorn Ranch (a ranch established by the former president)
Snøhetta
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will make use of locally-sourced and sustainable building materials, including timber, which will be used for the roof
Snøhetta
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will feature three pavilion areas offering choice views of the landscape
Snøhetta
"When designing a new project, we think about how we can give more to the site or community than is initially asked of us," says Snøhetta's Craig Dykers. "We integrated the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library into the landscape of the North Dakota Badlands"
Snøhetta
View gallery - 5 images

High-profile architecture firm Snøhetta has been commissioned to design the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. The project will rise out of the landscape like a large grassy hill and feature an expansive green roof on which visitors will be able to walk to enjoy the view.

Snøhetta's design for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library was chosen following an architecture competition that came down to Snøhetta, Studio Gang, and Henning Larsen. It will be constructed using locally-sourced and sustainable materials, and sport a large timber ceiling that supports the green roof.

The building's overall design is meant to mitigate the impact of severe winds and ensure that the library remains accessible in all weather. It will also feature additional buildings and pavilions that offer excellent views of the landscape and will be reached by meandering pathways.

"When designing a new project, we think about how we can give more to the site or community than is initially asked of us," says Snøhetta's Craig Dykers. "We integrated the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library into the landscape of the North Dakota Badlands. We still have much to learn about President Roosevelt, and we're looking forward to working with the Medora community and the broader project team to translate this knowledge into an immersive place to learn about T.R.s life and legacy."

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will make use of locally-sourced and sustainable building materials, including timber, which will be used for the roof
Snøhetta

While the exterior will allow people to walk on top of it, the interior itself will include educational areas and exhibition areas, plus a large communal fireplace. Snøhetta says it plans "sophisticated energy systems" to enable it to run more efficiently too, though as of writing no further details have been made available.

Once completed, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will become the 15th official Presidential Library, which are repositories for preserving and making available the historical materials of select US Presidents. We've no word yet as to its expected date of completion.

Source: Snøhetta

View gallery - 5 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
2 comments
A.L.
Well, it's taken only a hundred and one years after T.R.'s death for someone to finally get around to planning a library to house his papers and guard his legacy, but it really ought to be in new York City or on Long Island, where it belongs, because those places are also an important part of Roosevelt's legacy and made him what he was.
Mike Johnson
Digitize the content and it can be everywhere.
People can do whatever they want but this is just another analog fossilized dinosaur that will never have lived. The physical can be buried in a salt mine for future study for the half dozed people who might be interested.