See the Work
Environmental Research Center
An Environmental Research Facility on the Turtle Mountain Community College Campus
“The United States Government has condemned over 200 Indian homes on this reservation due to black mold infestation. Currently it is very common to find two or three families living in a two-bedroom housing unit … the people are ready for a change … The straw bale design is an opportunity to develop, efficient housing for the residents of the Turtle Mountain Reservation.”
— Richard Monette, Tribal Chairman,
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
In the Turtle Mountain community of North Dakota more than 1,000 homes were already urgently needed when several hundred homes were recently condemned. In response to this shortage, the Environmental Research Center at Turtle Mountain Community College was designed as both a learning laboratory and a model for future home construction. The project features straw bale construction, which is an affordable and energy-efficient housing solution especially when built with a frost-protected shallow foundation. As an additional benefit, the building was constructed with community involvement, transferring straw bale construction skills to tribal members.
With participatory design coordination by Nathaniel Corum, the building demonstrates the use of low-impact (on both health and environment) products, passive and active solar power, radiant heating, evaporative cooling, post-agricultural building materials, rainwater collection, within a barrier-free, culturally appropriate design informed by tribal college and community members.
Gallery
(hover over image to zoom)
by Nathaniel Corum
Exterior view of Environmental Research Center at Turtle Mountain Community College.
by Nathaniel Corum
Environmental Research Center showing salvaged timber frame entry pavillion.
by Nathaniel Corum
Environmental Research Center showing building-integrated photovoltaic roof system.
by Nathaniel Corum
Interior view of Environmental Research Center showing LED lighting, local wood products, compressed sunflower hull ag panels, straw-bale walls, and radiant flooring.
by Skip Baumhower
Red Feather staff and volunteers at Turtle Mountain (E.R.C.) build.
by Skip Baumhower
Interior view of Environmental Research Center under construction showing locally sourced trusses, opening (upper left) for salvaged Kalwall panels, void (upper wall at right) for post-consumer blow-in insulation, load bearing straw-bale walls, and high-volume fly ash concrete floor.
by Nathaniel Corum
Early community design approved sketch/photomontage of Turtle Mountain E.R.C. concept.
Project Summary
- Location:
- Belcourt, North Dakota
Turtle Mountain Reservation - Program Scope
- School (1,820 sq ft)
- Project Status
- Completed, September 2005
- Location:
- Belcourt, North Dakota
Turtle Mountain Reservation - Project Scope
- 110 acres gross site area
- New construction
- 1,820 sq ft gross project area
- Program Scope
- School (1,820 sq ft)
- Cost
250,000 Hard (construction) 87,000 Soft (all other) 337,000 TOTAL - Major Funders
- North Dakota Chamber of Commerce
- Red Feather Development Group
- Turtle Mountain Community College
- Enterprise Community Partners
- US Department of Agriculture
- Turtle Mountain Community
- Individual Donors
- Project Status
- Completed, September 2005
