A library bringing the outdoors in

Snøhetta has won the competition to design the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, with an entry that highlights the studio’s cross-disciplinary approach to architecture and landscape.

Surrounded by Badlands and bordering Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Snøhetta’s design references the conservation policies Roosevelt worked on during his presidency.

Snøhetta’s project extends beyond the site, with connections to Little Missouri River, former military camp Cantonment, and the original train depot where Roosevelt first arrived in Medora.

According to the studio, it 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 Library is the landscape,” with a main building that echoes the Badlands, appearing to rise from the butte. A curved, accessible rooftop on the northeastern edge acts as an extension of the terrain, providing a gently sloping and grassy expanse that looks northeast, over the National Park, Little Missouri River Valley, and Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch location.

Snøhetta’s design references the conservation policies Roosevelt worked on during his presidency.

The design works in harmony with the site’s ecology. Its placement preserves the landscape for conservation research, and it will be built with locally sourced, natural and renewable materials, such as expanses of wood and glass, and include sophisticated energy and wind impact mitigating systems.

A covered porch can be used for gatherings, and large windows highlight views. The main building can host a variety of events and exhibitions.

Five distinct pavilions around the perimeter are linked by a network of pathways and trails, each drawing the visitor into a moment in Theodore Roosevelt’s life. “These Pavilions,” say Snøhetta, “invite visitors to experience Roosevelt’s trials and triumphs in dialogue with the landscape that shaped him.”

The library loop consists of an elevated wooden boardwalk and curved pathway that connects the library to both the Maah Daah Hey Trail and these additional pavilions.

The Snøhetta teams says the library design is “a journey through a preserved landscape.”

Snøhetta’s project extends beyond the site, with connections to Little Missouri River, former military camp Cantonment, and the original train depot where Roosevelt first arrived in Medora. The Library is, "understood to be the buildings, pavilions, paths and landscape.”

The studio’s plans preserve the rugged conditions of the site, with the main building at the top of the lower wash, leaving the majority of the butte uninterrupted. Each season offers new ways to experience the wildlife, geology and vegetation unique to the area.

“The design of the Library is more than a building,” say Snøhetta, “it is a journey through a preserved landscape of diverse habitats, punctuated with small pavilions providing spaces for reflection and activity…The vista is a call to action, connecting today’s visitor to Roosevelt’s legacy.”