More than 20 years in the making, the $107 million Montana Heritage Center expansion and renovation project has resulted in a state-of-the-art facility that houses the state’s historic collections and resources, serving as a place for learning and discovery.
The Montana Heritage Center expansion and renovation were designed by MIB Associate Member Cushing Terrell, under the direction of principal architects David Koel, Anthony Houtz and Martin Byrnes. The goal of the project was to “preserve the past, share our stories and inspire exploration.”
The project nearly doubled the size of the existing building, adding 66,000 square feet of new space, as well as exterior and interior renovations to 66,995 square feet of the existing 1952 Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building. The design seamlessly melds old and new, utilizing the space between the two structures to create a dramatic entry that connects the two facilities.
“The vision for who we can be in the future really has also been built into this process, bringing together diverse voices from across our state from east and west, north and south, our Tribal Nations, men and women, young and old — it will be reflected right here,” said Governor Steve Bullock at the ground blessing ceremony. “This building design also looks to the future by incorporating sustainable features that will showcase the ingenuity and the values that make Montana such a special place.”
Taking inspiration from the state’s geology, the new building appears to emerge from the earth, symbolically referencing the Lewis Overthrust, the geophysical collision of tectonic plates that drove one plate over another and helped to define Montana’s landscape. Built of the same sandstone as the historic structure, the new building features subtle patterning incised into the rock.
“The sun plays an important role with shadows rippling across the landscape at different times of day, and we wanted to do something similar with the design of the building shell, using different materials to provide varying degrees of warmth and texture,” said David Koel, the design director at Cushing Terrell.
The landscape design continues the sense of exploration with features and plantings that mimic (on a micro scale) the journey from the plains and grasslands to the foothills and forests, and finally to mountain landscapes. Linking it all together is a river-like trail that flows from one ecosystem to the next.
The design concept for the Montana Heritage Center is intended to convey the sense that nature is a driving force behind why people reside in the state. The building’s exterior represents the diverse and ever-changing Montana landscape, the backdrop for the lives of its residents.
“We hope the exterior environment provides visitors an opportunity to feel an intimate connection to the spectacular Montana landscape and the people who have lived here over the generations,” said Wes Baumgartner, landscape architect at Cushing Terrell.
From the inside, the building is a vessel that preserves and highlights the remarkable stories of Montana’s people. With a commitment to sustainability and creating healthy spaces, the project is pursuing USGBC LEED and IWBI WELL certifications.
Offering a wide range of commercial design, architecture and engineering services and with offices in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula and Whitefish, MIB is proud to count Cushing Terrell among its Associate Members.
