National Museum of Forest Service History building will itself be an exhibit

The Conservation Legacy Center for the non-profit National Museum of Forest Service History in Missoula, Montana, aims to educate the public about the history and ongoing conservation work of the United States Forest Service (USFS). The building, now under construction, will itself be an exhibit.

The facility will feature representative wood species found throughout the U.S., wood products developed with USFS Forest Products Lab, and an array of mass timber products including glulams, cross laminated timber (CLT), and Mass Plywood Panels (MPP).

Tree-like columns will exhibit timber craft and advanced engineering, showcasing 16 representative trees from national forests. The predominantly wood building provides a new focus on a sustainable way of building, comprising low embodied carbon, renewable materials, and carbon sequestration.

The unique two-way span capability of MPP is exhibited in the folded roof geometry over the building’s south-facing portico and main lobby. The south-facing portico incorporates passive cooling and heating principles by blocking hot summer sun while welcoming winter rays. A roof deck provides panoramic views of the campus and access to a fire tower.

Visitors will experience curated exhibits as well as views of the museum’s campus. Supplemental features of the center and campus provide additional visitor experiences including archival repository processing, forested landscape with featured specimen trees, and dramatic open vistas with mountain views to the south. 

“The Conservation Legacy Center will demonstrate an encyclopedia of timber technologies, ranging from cutting-edge mass timber products and digital fabrication to traditional wood joinery and a ‘forest’ of 14 iconic wood species,” says Tom Chung, FAIA, LEED AP, BD+C, and principal-in-charge, Leers Weinzapfel Associates. “This approach will generate a compelling space as well as a one-of-a-kind example that affirms the importance of our national forests and the many wood species that have provided vast construction resources over the past century.” 

The project is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Owner and/or developer:
National Museum of Forest Service History
Design architect: Leers Weinzapfel Associates
Architect of record: Leers Weinzapfel Associates
MEP engineer: BVH / Salas O’ Brien
Structural engineer: Simpson Gumpertz and Heger (Engineer of Record), Studio NYL (Connections Engineer), KPFF (Delegated Design Engineer)
General contractor/construction manager: Dick Anderson Construction