Snøhetta, one of the world’s leading architecture studios, has begun designing the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (TRPL), just outside Medora, North Dakota. The library is dedicated to honoring the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, who had deep interest in the state, with properties and administrative roles.

The TRPL is designed as a long, narrow structure that cuts through the rolling landscape of the Badlands. It centers around a central passageway bisecting the building and leading into exhibition spaces and a large theater. Its exterior provides a striking image of the library-a berm with a green roof-and integrates with the surroundings. The roof design, teamed with sculptural protruding lightwells, emphasizes a sense of harmony with the natural surroundings.

Snøhetta has used a mass-timber and steel hybrid system to carry the structure, exposing many elements of the mass-timber frame. The breezeway, serving as the central circulation path, will prominently display this timber detailing. As of November 2024, much of the wood exterior cladding and the rammed-earth walls at the library’s main entrance have been completed.

It embodies a sustainable, low-impact design philosophy and incorporates materials such as mass timber and rammed earth, all of which speak to Roosevelt’s dedication to preserving the environment. The idea of the green roof on this library is almost an evocation of his environmental consciousness, and in the work, the thoughts on landscapes that led him to preserve his vision are there.

The 1.3-mile boardwalk that circumscribes the library is aligned with scenic overlooks and pavilions that augment views of the landscape around it. It will also connect trails for hiking into Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Snøhetta is always strongly committed to sustainability; they achieve even the most ambitious environmental goals, such as zero energy, zero emissions, zero water, and zero waste. Snøhetta design focuses on passive and active technologies that will deliver these targets.

The project will be fully completed by July 2026, though there will be limited exhibitions to begin late next year. In contrast to most presidential libraries, which are under the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) management, the TRPL is being developed by private non-profits, and the land was bought by the Roosevelt family. Snøhetta was chosen for the project in 2020, outpacing other design firms like Studio Gang and Henning Larsen.

Read Also: Arquitectonica Completes Miami Beach’s Tallest Skyscraper in Over a Decade