Rapid City, S.D.
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology’s Paleontology Building in Rapid City has attained LEED Gold sustainable design certification. The $6 million facility houses laboratories, offices, 300,000 fossils, specimen receiving and preparation areas, collection storage, archives, and a library. The building was constructed using concrete with 25 percent fly ash. Office counters and shelves are made from recycled paper. A large atrium features wall panels covered in a product made from compressed sunflower husks. The facility also features abundant daylighting, advanced mechanical systems, high-performance glazing, and low-VOC adhesives and sealants. The project was designed by Anderson Mason Dale Architects.
