South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center Expansion

South Dakota’s Cultural Heritage Center needed a refresh to attract visitors to showcase the State Historical Society’s State Archives and Museum. It is also home to historic preservation, research, and publishing offices.

Given research and GIS data, ISG understood the potential for new recreational and cultural activities for the community and proposed a renovation and expansion to the already unique design built into a hillside on the plains. In efforts to expand on the natural landscape, as well as leveraging sustainable materials, ISG proposed timber as a sustainable building option. A new mass timber gathering area expands on the nature-inspired design concept, providing an open floor plan with concealed connections. The concept resembles an Arikara exposed timber structure, paying homage to the Native American tribes represented within the museum. It will serve as a space to gather, connect, and learn about South Dakota’s past, present, and future.

To maximize the Center’s appeal and convenience for visitors, ISG’s designers and landscape architects are working to enhance accessibility and educational features throughout the entire facility.