Center for Western Studies

A u g u s t a n a C o l l e g e, S i o u x F a l l s

INTRODUCTION Client: Augustana College / The Center for Western Studies Date of Completion: 2001 Area: 20,000 square feet

The Center for Western Studies building is designed to embody the character of the region and help make history exciting, accessible, attractive, inviting and visible.

It is designed to tell the important story of our region and to recognize the character of the Augustana campus and the Mikkelsen Library to which it is attached.

PROGRAM

PROGRAM The building’s form: in plan, a square in a circle; in elevation, a series of horizontal lines; and in massing, a truncated cone (tipi) intersecting a box.

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

MATERIALS The building’s materials, primarily regional in origin: like limestone from Mankato, granite from Millbank and brick from northwestern Iowa, pay homage to the cultural history, geography and geology of the prairie.

PROGRAM

EXHIBIT SPACES A progression of exterior and interior spaces represents the progression of major eras from the unpeopled prairie the plaza, to the Native American - the tipi shaped lobby with prayer wheel design in its floor, to the period of European settlement - the first exhibit space, to today - the second exhibit space.

EXHIBIT SPACES

EXHIBIT SPACES

ENTRANCE The Center’s entrance is oriented to the south, giving equal attention to all those served by the Center - both on campus and off.