Living Building Challenge
The Living Building Challenge is an ambitious certification that aims to transform how we think about every single act of design and construction into an opportunity to positively impact our community and environment. It examines materials used in the building process and requires that we continue to meet specific standards for energy production, water usage, and access to nature.
The Living Building Challenge asks: “What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?”
Every aspect of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will embrace the Living Building Challenge, from its architecture that reflects the surrounding Badlands to its sustainability ambition of “Four Zeros.”
The Living Building Challenge requires that buildings achieve the imperatives in seven issue areas, or “petals.” Explore the seven petals below: Beauty, Place, Energy, Water, Materials, Equity, and Health + Happiness, including how TRPL plans to meet these goals.
Living Building Challenge Petals
Click on each “Petal” below to learn more about our sustainability efforts in each category.
WE ARE INSPIRED BY
- Renewable power from the sun, wind, and water.
- Roosevelt’s foresight about the consequences of exhausting finite resources
- Biomimicry as a guide for low-impact, healing design
- The promise of innovation that honors tradition while forging new paths toward resilience
OUR APPROACH
- We will achieve Net-Positive Energy by building for efficiency and generating our own power.
- High-performance thermal envelope
- Ground coupling for temperature stability
- On-site and off-site renewable energy generation
- Reduced Energy Use Intensity (EUI) through thoughtful design
WE ARE INSPIRED BY
- The restorative power and rejuvenating quality of the American West
- Roosevelt’s deep joy in the wild places of the Badlands
- The ecosystems here that sustain life in all its forms
- Nature as both classroom and playground, offering adventure and discovery
OUR APPROACH
The Library will be a place to breathe deeply, heal, and reconnect—with nature, with others, and with yourself. From sunlit interiors to trails under open sky, we will design for well-being in every detail.
- Rooftop walkway planted with native species
- Elevated boardwalks and shaded spaces for reflection
- Locally sourced, high-quality food in our café
- Daylight woven throughout interior spaces
WE ARE INSPIRED BY
- Materials produced naturally by the Badlands' beautiful landscape
- Responsible use that safeguards resources for the future
- Roosevelt’s fierce commitment to conservation
- Architecture that works with, not against, the land
OUR APPROACH
The Library’s materials will embody Roosevelt’s values of conservation and stewardship, using resources that reflect the Badlands’ character while minimizing environmental impact.
- Rammed earth walls
- Reclaimed regional wood
- Mass timber structure
- Low-carbon concrete
- Rigorous Red List–free vetting with full transparency
WE ARE INSPIRED BY
- The raw beauty of the Badlands’ skies, cliffs, and grasslands
- The culture, art, and stories of the region’s people
- The wildlife that thrives here in balance
- The lasting growth inspired by time spent here.
OUR APPROACH
- We will blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, creating beauty you can feel.
- Gently sloping roof echoing the surrounding buttes
- Regionally appropriate, natural building materials
- Accessible rooftop, panoramic windows, and covered porch
- Elevated boardwalk and outdoor gathering spaces
WE ARE INSPIRED BY
- Water’s essential role in sustaining life and livelihoods
- Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch, set along the Little Missouri River
- Protecting the water balance of the Badlands
- The reminder of our shared responsibility to steward our water resources with care
OUR APPROACH
Our Zero Water goal will ensure the Library works with, not against, the water cycle.
- Harvesting rainwater and reusing non-potable water
- Drawing potable water from sustainable southwest sources
- Installing ultra-low-flow plumbing fixtures
- Using living roof wetlands to naturally polish wastewater
- Restoring natural hydrology on site
WE ARE INSPIRED BY
- Living in relationship and balance with the land.
- The comfort and renewal Roosevelt found in the Badlands
- The Library’s role as a place for community and connection
- The many adventures awaiting in TR National Park, the Maah Daah Hey Trail, and beyond
OUR APPROACH
We will root the Library in this landscape, then invite visitors to explore it:
- Land blessing ceremony to honor those who came before
- Conservation storytelling woven into the visitor experience
- The TR Triangle linking the Library to the region
- Trails and boardwalks leading into the surrounding terrain
WE ARE INSPIRED BY
- Ensuring the outdoors can be enjoyed by all, regardless of means or ability
- Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” vision of fairness for every citizen
- The shared sense of awe inspired by wild beauty
- Creating landscapes that tell stories of resilience, history, and hope
OUR APPROACH
This will be a People’s Library, inclusive in spirit and in practice:
- Inclusive hiring practices
- ADA-accessible paths, facilities, and rooftop access
- Free public access to grounds and trails year-round
- Annual free museum day for the community
The Design
The design process for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is informed by Roosevelt’s personal reflections on the landscape, his interest in environmental stewardship, and periods of quiet introspection and civic engagement in his life.
Sustainability
The Library’s design will reflect and expand upon those values, setting an ambitious new standard for environmental conservation and sustainability leadership.
Native Plant Project
TRPL is sponsoring a notable Native Plant Project in partnership with Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) and North Dakota State University (NDSU) to help restore indigenous plants to the Library’s extensive outdoor spaces.