Snøhetta Begins Work on Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

Architecture firm Snøhetta has started work on the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, releasing initial construction images and renderings of its green roof, which blends seamlessly with the surrounding Badlands landscape in North Dakota.
The library, located just outside Medora, is dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. president, who was born in New York but had strong ties to North Dakota, where he owned property and held various administrative roles.

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (TRPL) is a long, narrow structure built into the rolling landscape. The design features a central passageway through the building, with exhibition areas and a large theater. The structure appears as a large berm from the outside, with plantings on the roof and sculptural lightwells protruding from the surface.
Last month, Snøhetta completed the final elements of the sloping roof, which utilizes a hybrid mass-timber and steel system for support. Parts of the mass-timber structure will remain exposed, especially in the breezeway, which will be the main circulation space between the two main indoor areas.

"The design for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is informed by the president's personal reflections on the landscape, his commitment to environmental stewardship, and the periods of quiet introspection and civic engagement that marked his life," said Snøhetta. "The design functions in harmony with the unique ecology of the region and expresses the conservation ethos for which Roosevelt is remembered."
As of last month, much of the exterior wood cladding and rammed-earth walls, marking the library’s primary entrance, have been completed. These sustainable elements reflect Roosevelt’s dedication to preservation, with the green roof and natural materials such as mass timber and rammed earth serving as key components of the project's low-impact design.

The site will also feature a 1.3-mile boardwalk, connecting the library to overlooks, pavilions, and hiking trails leading into Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The library aims to meet ambitious sustainability targets, with Snøhetta outlining its goals of zero energy, zero emissions, zero water, and zero waste. "This approach relies on a carefully calibrated combination of passive strategies and active technologies throughout the site and building," the team said.

With North Dakota’s harsh winter setting in, enclosures are being erected to continue construction, and the green roof installation is scheduled for next year. Limited exhibitions will begin in late 2024, with full completion of the project expected by July 2026.

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is a privately driven initiative, separate from the 15 existing presidential libraries managed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Snøhetta was selected for the design in 2020 from a pool of competing firms, including Studio Gang and Henning Larsen.
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