TEDDY TOPS OUT
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, N.D., topped out the main building structure on Oct. 9, 2024. This traditional milestone marks the installation of the highest point of the building and is a major step in bringing the vision to life.
The library’s framework showcases sustainable materials and construction methods, honoring Roosevelt’s conservationist legacy. The use of mass timber—a combination of glulam beams and cross-laminated timber decking—has transformed the building into a model of structural integrity and sustainability.
It’s primary steel structure is also fully complete, including beams and columns that will support the building’s roof. The parapet and façade steelwork are underway, shaping the library’s distinctive profile against the North Dakota skyline.
With the structural framework in place, work moved quickly to complete the roof concrete, which now provides essential protection for the interior of the building as winter descends. One of the most visually striking aspects of the library’s design is the rammed earth walls—an architectural choice that speaks to the natural beauty and resourceful spirit of the North Dakota landscape.
