Featured Project | Payne Family Native American Center

Owner: State of Montana 
Architect: A&E Architects, PC
Contract Value: $6,600,000
Link: http://blog.umt.edu/nac/

Jackson completed the 30,000 square foot $6.6 million LEED project on the University of Montana campus in March, 2010. The exterior structure is a twelve-sided dodecagon, which represents the twelve tribes of Montana. Seven Native gardens were placed throughout the site, representing each of the reservations in the State. The building is the first LEED registered project on campus. Green building strategies were implemented throughout the building process reducing the structure's environmental impact.
The Payne Family Native American Center is the first facility in the nation built expressly to accommodate a Department of Native American Studies, American Indian Student Services, and the Tribal Liaison, positioning the University to continue its pursuit of excellence in Native American education. UM is a regional and national leader in nine different disciplines and areas—a testament to its commitment to provide a high quality, comprehensive set of offerings in Native American education. The building was given the last, prime piece of land on the campus oval—a focal point for the campus—underscoring its importance and the strong support of the UM administration. Fittingly, it is the site of an historic Salish Indian encampment, and the building is designed to reflect that legacy as well as the heritage and cultures of all Montana tribes.