Native American Center 1

native american center

Location: The University of Montana - Missoula, MT

PUSHING THE DESIGN ENVELOPE: The Native American Center is the first-of-its-kind in the nation and will be the home of the Native American Studies department, Native student services, and related campus programs. Located near the oval at the center of the University of Montana’s campus, the building will become a campus icon. This LEED project consists of a two story, with full basement and utilizes a composite steel floor framing for increased performance. A dodecagonal (12 sided) gathering area is framed with exposed Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) columns that support PSL roof members with steel cable bottom chords that connect to center tension and compression rings that extenuates the sky light in the center of the roof. The lateral system is a combination of visible and hidden steel braced frames.

Construction of the Native American Center is slated to be completed in January of 2010.

Approx. Project Cost: $6,000,000.00

Contact: Eric Simonsen, AIA, A&E Architects, 608 N. 29th St., Billings, MT 59101

Orchard Gardens 1

Orchard Gardens 2

orchard gardens housing complex

Location: Missoula, MT

Innovation with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design: The Orchard Gardens complex consists of several buildings in a campus setting. The Main Building (pictured above) consists of two levels of housing with underground parking and a third level utilized for mechanical space. A ‘Farmhouse’ building houses several residential units as do two ‘Rowhouse’ buildings. A central community building (pictured below) allows for gatherings and functions. The entire project was constructed for low income housing.

Certification Items/ Principles: Though the project did not apply for the LEED certification process, there were many elements that leaned heavily on the tenets of LEED.

EA Credit 1: The exterior envelope of the building is important for increasing energy performance. We utilized structural insulated panel (SIP) roof panels where possible for thermal efficiency. We also worked closely with the rest of the consulting team on detailing to keep energy efficiency in mind throughout.

MR Credit 4: BCE worked with MSU research laboratories to specify a minimum of 35% fly ash concrete mix. We also worked closely with MSU to test and specify 100% fly ash concrete mix for the community building foundation system. The community building was built out of load bearing straw bale walls which provide the main gravity and lateral load system.

MR Credits 4, 5, 7: BCE documented and specified the use of recycled materials, regional materials, and FSC certified wood throughout the structural elements.

Construction Cost: $6.5 Million

Contact: MMW Architects, 125 West Alder Street, Missoula, MT 59101