Snøhetta’s design for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library was recently selected as the winning entry in a competition to design the facility. The design 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.
The facility is conceived as a journey through a preserved landscape of diverse habitats, punctuated with small pavilions providing spaces for reflection and activity. Set at the northeast edge of a butte, the landscape is preserved for conservation research while offering a setting for educational walks, leisure, and recreation. Paths will connect to the nearby Maah Daah Trail and several small pavilions. These pavilions will range from small nooks to expansive vistas.
An accessible rooftop provides views of the National Park, connecting visitors to Roosevelt’s legacy. At night, the roof will provide an ideal location for stargazing. A covered porch that overlooks the nearby valleys can be used for gatherings throughout the year. Additionally, large windows will highlight views to historically significant landscapes and blur the line between interior and exterior.
The library’s construction will use locally sourced and renewable materials while sophisticated energy systems will set a new standard for sustainable design in the region. The design also mitigates the impact of wind and other climatic factors so the library will be accessible in all seasons.
Related Stories
Libraries | Nov 22, 2021
Atlanta’s Central Library completes its $50 million renovation
Cooper Carry in association with Vines Architecture designed the project.
Giants 400 | Nov 19, 2021
2021 Cultural Facilities Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. cultural facilities sector
Gensler, AECOM, Buro Happold, and Arup top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest cultural facilities sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Libraries | Sep 22, 2021
Three libraries in California were built in less than two years under a P3 contract
A nonprofit with tax advantages funded the project.
Giants 400 | Aug 30, 2021
2021 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.
The 2021 Giants 400 Report includes more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Libraries | Aug 26, 2021
Fort Worth’s first public library for children opens
KAI designed the project.
Resiliency | Aug 19, 2021
White paper outlines cost-effective flood protection approaches for building owners
A new white paper from Walter P Moore offers an in-depth review of the flood protection process and proven approaches.
Libraries | Aug 17, 2021
ABA creates space for the Philip Roth Personal Library at the Newark Public Library
ABA partnered with Shawmut Design & Construction on the project.
Libraries | Aug 10, 2021
Lakeside Branch Library breaks ground
HED and PCL Construction are designing and building the project.
Libraries | Jul 9, 2021
Smith College’s newly renovated Neilson Library honors its past as it moves into the future
Adding more space for the library's Special Collections was a design imperative.
Resiliency | Jun 24, 2021
Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]
New on HorizonTV, oceanographer John Englander discusses his latest book, which warns that, regardless of resilience efforts, sea levels will rise by meters in the coming decades. Adaptation, he says, is the key to future building design and construction.