Roosevelt's refuge: a library rooted in the badlands
The windswept plains of North Dakota, once a balm for a grief-stricken Theodore Roosevelt, are now home to a presidential library unlike any other. Opening July 4th, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library isn't a monument to power, but a quiet echo of the landscape that shaped a nation’s leader—a testament to the enduring power of nature and resilience.
A design inspired by the prairie
Nearly a century and a half ago, Roosevelt, reeling from the simultaneous loss of his wife and mother, sought solace in the rugged Badlands. He found it, establishing Elkhorn Ranch and forging a profound connection to the land that he credited with shaping his future presidency. Today, Snøhetta, the architectural firm behind the library’s design, has honored that legacy with a structure that seems to emerge organically from the earth itself.
“The design starts with the landscape,” explains Aaron Dorf, Snøhetta’s director. “It’s about honoring it, not imposing on it.” The result is a marvel of regenerative design: a gently sloping living roof, blanketed with over 63 native species, blends seamlessly into the prairie. From Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the building appears as little more than a subtle rise in the terrain, a deliberate choice to minimize its visual impact.
The building's earth-sheltered design further reduces its environmental footprint, tucking into the terrain and mitigating thermal impact. Visitors traverse a nearly mile-long elevated boardwalk, circling the bluff and linking gathering spaces, overlooks, and trails—offering views that mirror those which captivated Roosevelt over 140 years ago.
Earth, wood, and restoration: a material story
Inside, the library’s warm, earth-toned interiors reflect the surrounding landscape. Massive, 24-inch-thick rammed-earth walls, their layered stripes echoing the Badlands, curve through the lobby. Skylights, a later addition that increased the building’s size by 50%, flood the space with natural light, reducing the need for artificial illumination and showcasing timber beams overhead.
But the design’s commitment extends far beyond aesthetics. The project is built on a foundation of three core materials: earth, wood, and native plants. Earth is utilized in the living roof and rammed-earth walls, acting as thermal mass to regulate temperature. Mass timber forms the structure's backbone, drastically reducing the need for steel and boasting a zero-carbon footprint. Even discarded timber from construction has been reclaimed and repurposed into benches, retaining walls, and picnic tables.
Perhaps most significantly, the library’s construction spurred the Native Plant Project, a collaborative effort between Snøhetta, Resource Environmental Solutions, and North Dakota State University. Volunteers meticulously collected seeds from native grasses, sedges, shrubs, and wildflowers across the region, propagating them into thousands of plants that now blanket the library's grounds and are aiding restoration projects throughout North Dakota.
A four-zero commitment and a deeper connection
Snøhetta's ambition doesn’t stop at visual harmony. The project operates under a “Four Zeros” framework: zero energy, zero emissions, zero water, and zero waste. Pursuing the Living Building Challenge certification—a rigorous standard that demands demonstrable sustainability—is a testament to this commitment. The library also aims for LEED Platinum status, employing features such as passive design, geothermal heating and cooling, rainwater collection, and photovoltaic systems.
Ultimately, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library offers more than just a glimpse into the past; it provides an invitation to slow down, disconnect from the digital world, and reconnect with the expansive landscape that shaped one of America’s most iconic figures. “My hope,” says Dorf, “is that people think the building is great, but also look beyond it for a profound experience.”