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Teddy Roosevelt’s wooden hybrid library anchored to a huge rock!

Work has begun on the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, the first to use a hybrid frame of solid wood and steel. It comes as US-based Mercer Mass Timber, a subsidiary of Mercer International, has announced it will supply up to 1,800 cubic metres of cross-laminated timber and glulam to a project that honours the legacy of the 26th president for preservation.

“We are honored to be a part of this groundbreaking project, which is recognized as one of the most important cultural institutions in the world,” said Brian Merwin, senior vice president of MMT, Mercer’s Mass Timber division, who spoke about the project in April, adding that “the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is an example of MMT’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable construction.”

Inside the Mercer Mass Timber Factory, located in Spokane Valley, Washington. Images courtesy of @mercermasstimber.

Mr Merwin said the first phase includes the library’s skeleton and roof, while the second phase, expected to start next year, will incorporate cross-laminated timber and glulam for exterior features, including walkways and canopies that shield sunlight.

“This represents a transition we are seeing in modern buildings and architectural design, where common spaces are being designed with long-term sustainability in mind,” said Nick Milestone, Vice President of Projects and Construction at MMT, “and mass timber is the perfect match… to bring this important landmark to life, on time, on budget and to meet sustainability goals.”

The choice for a building with a lot of wood is fitting, it really couldn’t be otherwise. President Roosevelt, affectionately called Teddy, is generally known as ‘The Conservation President.’

Roosevelt served as President of the United States from 1901 to 1909, and after the assassination of William McKinley, he used his authority to establish the United States Forest Service in 1905.

As president, he established 150 national forests, 51 bird sanctuaries, four national wildlife refuges, and 18 national monuments as part of the American Antiquities Act of 1906. According to the U.S. National Park Service, Roosevelt protected more than 230 million acres (or 93 million hectares) of public lands, with more than 150 million acres (or 60 million hectares) of the land preserved as forests.

Images courtesy of @KFYR-TV.

In September 2020, Snøhetta was commissioned for the library by Studio Gang and Henning Larsen. Snøhetta’s design is based on Roosevelt’s “personal reflections on the landscape, his commitment to environmental stewardship, and the periods of quiet introspection and community engagement that marked his life.”

The library’s construction uses locally sourced solid wood, with its advanced energy systems setting a new standard for sustainable design in the region. The design also limits the impact of wind and other climate factors, making the library accessible year-round.

The Mass Timber and Steel structure is anchored around a giant rock. (Photo: Sohetta)

By sketching a continuum between past and present, the design “captures Teddy’s legacy while also committing to the longevity and health of the region.”

Construction of the library began in mid-June (last year) after the topsoil was removed for the project. Construction of the massive building, including its steel and solid wood frame, will begin later this month.

According to Ed O’Keefe, CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, builders have been working on the library’s east retaining wall since last fall. “If you were to come on site, you would see a sequence that started with the topsoil, started with the east wing, went to the west wing, and then went back to the east wing,” he said late last year.

The project is located on a 230-acre site near the site of the famous Medora Musical and the scenic national park that bears Roosevelt’s name. The U.S. Forest Service closed on the sale of the property in 2022 after Congress approved it in 2020.

The Roosevelt family acquired the 95-acre plot of land after the U.S. Congress approved its sale.

The total construction of the library will cost $180 million. Construction will continue throughout the winter, barring extreme weather.

“We are strong and resilient,” Mr. O’Keefe joked.

For Mr. O’Keefe, the proudest moment of construction will be the delivery of mass timber and steel, which began in May. “By next summer, you will see very substantial construction on the site,” O’Keefe said.

Views of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in the western Badlands of North Dakota.(Image credit: Sohetta)

Library organizers are planning a grand opening of the library on July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.

How the community raised money for Teddy’s library

In 2019, the Republican-controlled North Dakota Legislature approved a $50 million grant to operate the library, on the condition that organizers raise $100 million in private donations.

That goal was achieved in the fall of 2020, when Mr. O’Keefe confirmed that the project had already raised “over $200 million in fundraising and commitments,” and that “the fundraising never stops.”

In April, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum shared plans to create President Theodore Roosevelt’s library in his state. Images courtesy of @FoxNews.

Last year, the Legislature approved a $70 million line of credit through the state-owned Bank of North Dakota for the project, which is intended to provide a safety net before construction begins.

According to O’Keefe, organizers have not yet drawn on the credit line.

Oil magnate Harold Hamm, a major player in the state’s Bakken oil field, has donated $50 million to the project, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum announced.

Mr. Burgum, a wealthy software entrepreneur who ran in the Republican primary for president, championed the library proposal during the 2019 session and donated $1 million to the project.

Currently, there are 13 presidential libraries managed by the National Archives. These libraries serve as archives and museums for the legacy of each government.

In addition, there are private presidential libraries and museums in the U.S., including the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and the Jefferson Library. President Roosevelt’s fifth cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), was the 32nd President of the United States (1933–1945).

The FDR Library is located on the grounds of the Roosevelt family’s Springwood estate in Hyde Park, New York. The library was built under the president’s direction in 1939-1940 and opened on June 30, 1941. It was the first presidential library in the United States.

Despite Teddy Roosevelt being a Republican and FDR a Democrat, the two were very close. Images courtesy of @HISTORY.
Nick Milestone will be a keynote speaker at TimberConstruct

Mr Milestone is one of nine international speakers presenting (remotely) at TimberConstruct, Australia’s largest timber construction conference. According to Andrew Dunn, the conference organiser, Mercer Mass Timber is at the forefront of the mass timber wave and a leader in hybrid timber construction.

“That’s why we’re so excited to have Nick dialing in from overseas,” Dunn said. Milestone will be joined by Perry Forsythe, professor emeritus at the University of Technology Sydney, to discuss the North American solid timber skyline and the lessons we can learn in an Australian context.

As Vice President of Building and Construction for MMT, Mr. Milestone has been involved in some of America’s largest mass timber projects, including Brocks Common, for a time the world’s tallest mass timber building, and the Moynihan Connector in New York City. He also helped build Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, now Asia’s largest mass timber building and a hotbed of growth in the Asian market.

“So far we have 39 speakers on the agenda,” Dunn said, with the Melbourne event “focusing on materials and design, prefabrication and construction techniques.”

“Tickets are still available for the August 12th and 13th event,” Dunn said, “so make sure you get your early bird tickets before it’s too late.”

  • Please note: Wood Central will be publishing an exclusive interview with Nick Milestone next week.

  • Wood Central

    Wood Central is Australia’s first and only dedicated platform covering wood-based media across all digital platforms. Our vision is to develop an integrated platform for media, events, education and products that connect, inform and inspire the people and organisations working in and promoting forestry, timber and fibre.

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