Three Affiliated Tribes
MHA Cultural Interpretive Center and Adjoining Earth Lodge Village
The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation of North Dakota will recognize its historic role in the Lewis and Clark expedition in the interpretive center. The building represents the importance of the earth lodge structure as a home and community gathering place. Central to the building design is a commons area, circular in nature, with log structure consistent with the earth lodge structure. Flexibility of spaces further enhances the economical viability of the design. Ancillary spaces located on the perimeter of the commons area can be used for meetings, ceremonies, and demonstrations.
The use of natural daylighting in these spaces is maximized by southern exposure with sunshading during summer months provided by an exterior trellis system representative of ‘native’ scaffold structures. A green-roof system designed to enhance the aesthetic view of the building from the interpretive trail and to control runoff from the building into Lake Sakakawea. The use of a ground source heat pump will help control long term energy costs.
