MEDORA, N.D. — When visitors step onto the winding prairie-covered roof of the
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
this summer, they may not realize that one of the driving forces behind the project comes from a company founded hundreds of miles away in Fargo.
For nearly three years, North Dakota-based JLG Architects has worked alongside an international team of designers, engineers and builders to help transform a vision into reality on the edge of the Badlands. As architect of record for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, the employee-owned firm has played a central role in navigating the technical, environmental and logistical challenges of constructing one of the most ambitious cultural projects ever undertaken in North Dakota.
, the library will commemorate the life and legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt while immersing visitors in the landscape that shaped his views on conservation, citizenship and leadership.
A rendering by international architectural firm Snøhetta shows the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
A library rooted in place
The project stands apart from most presidential libraries, which are typically built in major metropolitan areas. Instead, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library rises from a remote site near
a community of roughly 160 residents nestled along the edge of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
For JLG Architects, the location is part of what makes the project special.
“Our architects have worked on projects in this remote and rugged region for decades,” said Jennifer Burke Jackson, principal and community practice studio leader at JLG Architects. “We’re intimately familiar with rural jurisdictions, complex soils, optimizing wind and responding to this climate.”
Jackson said the firm’s experience working throughout North Dakota helped position it to guide construction in a region where weather, geography and limited resources can complicate even routine building projects.
A rendering by international architectural firm Snøhetta shows an aerial view of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
The library’s design team includes international architecture firm Snøhetta, which served as design architect, along with landscape architects and construction experts from across the country. JLG contributed architectural expertise and the specialized knowledge of its Cultural and Sustainability Studios, helping transform the design vision into a buildable project while ensuring compliance with local regulations and environmental requirements.
The result is a structure unlike any other in the state.
Rather than standing above the landscape, the library appears to emerge from it. Earthen walls, mass timber construction and a walkable prairie roof are intended to blend the building into the surrounding terrain while creating an immersive visitor experience.
A rendering by JLG Architects show the mass timber ceiling and wood detailing inside the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
The design reflects Roosevelt’s own connection to
After arriving in the Badlands in the 1880s, Roosevelt developed a lifelong appreciation for conservation and public stewardship, experiences he later credited with shaping his presidency.
Visitors will be encouraged to follow a journey inspired by Roosevelt’s life and values. Exhibits will combine historical artifacts, storytelling and digital technology to explore both the man and the broader themes of conservation, leadership and citizenship.
A rendering by JLG Architects shows an immersive exhibit inside the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
Michelle Mongeon Allen, CEO of JLG Architects, said the project represents a unique opportunity to connect architecture with place.
“I grew up in the heart of rural North Dakota, where the landscape and community shaped my values and vision as an architect,” Allen said. “Standing on a living roof in the Badlands, looking out to where Roosevelt first stepped off the train, I am reminded that TRPL is more than a building; it is a transformative experience that rises from the land itself.”
Beyond its cultural significance, the project is also attracting national attention for its sustainability goals.
The library is pursuing Living Building Challenge certification, one of the most rigorous sustainability standards in the world. If successful, it would become the first project in North Dakota to achieve the certification and the first presidential library in the nation designed to meet those standards.
The project is also targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum and SITES Platinum certifications.
According to JLG Sustainability Manager Chayna Claeys, the building is designed to generate more energy than it consumes once operational performance requirements are met.
“Once the doors open and the Living Building Challenge performance period has commenced, TRPL will be a living building and brilliant example of energy independence,” Claeys said.
Achieving those goals has required extensive collaboration among architects, contractors and material suppliers.
One example is the library’s distinctive
Designed to mirror the layered geology of the Badlands, the walls are constructed from compacted natural materials including soil, sand and gravel. The finished walls display visible horizontal bands resembling the region’s rock formations while also providing durability and energy efficiency.
A rendering by JLG Architects shows the rammed-earth walls of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, which are constructed from layers of gravel, sand and soil.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
The project team also developed specialized low-carbon concrete mixtures and incorporated mass timber construction to reduce the building’s environmental footprint.
Environmental stewardship extends beyond the building itself.
A major component of the project has involved restoring native prairie across the nearly 100-acre site. According to project leaders, the area had been affected by drought, overgrazing and wildfire before restoration efforts began.
Over the past four years, volunteers, ecologists and landscape professionals have worked to reestablish native vegetation through seed collection, planting and land management practices. The effort includes creating a native seed bank that could support future prairie restoration projects elsewhere.
A rendering by international architectural firm Snøhetta shows the trailhead outside the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
The living roof itself features hundreds of thousands of native prairie plants. Visitors will be able to walk across the rooftop and experience seasonal changes in the landscape while viewing the surrounding
.
For JLG Architects, the project represents more than a high-profile commission.
Founded in North Dakota in 1989, the firm has grown into a nationally recognized practice with projects spanning education, healthcare, civic facilities and cultural destinations. Yet company leaders say the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library remains one of the most meaningful projects in its history.
Jackson believes the project demonstrates that world-class design can emerge from rural communities just as easily as from major cities.
“At our core, we believe rural communities like Medora are equally deserving of good design and the impact of meaningful creativity on daily life,” she said.
When the library welcomes its first visitors on Independence Day, team members say the building will serve not only as a tribute to Roosevelt’s legacy, but also as a testament to the people, partnerships and perseverance that brought one of North Dakota’s most ambitious projects from concept to reality.
1/6: A rendering by JLG Architects shows exterior design details of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
2/6: A rendering by JLG Architects shows the rammed-earth wall of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
3/6: A rendering by international architectural firm Snøhetta shows the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
4/6: A rendering by international architectural firm Snøhetta shows the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
5/6: The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is set to open July 4 near Medora, offering visitors an immersive experience that explores Roosevelt’s legacy of conservation, leadership and citizenship.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
6/6: A rendering by international architectural firm Snøhetta shows the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Courtesy / JLG Architects
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As a professional writer with more than 10 years of experience, Kelly lives by these words. With a bachelor’s degree in communication, majoring in broadcasting and journalism, and a fiery passion for writing that began in childhood, she uses the power of words to make an impact in the community — informing, educating, and entertaining a wide range of audiences.
As a journalist, what Kelly loves most about her job is the ability to bring unique stories to the public and give people a voice that can be heard around the world. Whether through print or digital platforms, her goal is to share stories people enjoy reading while spreading valuable information that supports the welfare of southwest North Dakota and its people.