studio loutsis integrates timber wayfinding into snøhetta’s theodore roosevelt library

studio loutsis designs an environmentally compliant wayfinding and signage system for the theodore roosevelt presidential library, integrating custom typography, heavy timber pylons, and flush-mounted interior details across the badlands campus.

Taylor Loutsis edited by christina vergopoulou October 28, 2026 3 min

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WAYFINDING system FOR Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

Located in Medora, North Dakota, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is embedded directly within the terrain of the Badlands. Designed by Snøhetta with architect of record JLG Architects, the library campus connects three institutions across expansive indoor and outdoor environments. Studio Loutsis was commissioned to develop the comprehensive signage, wayfinding, and donor recognition system spanning the site, treating graphic wayfinding as an architectural and landscape-driven extension of the campus.

studio loutsis integrates timber wayfinding into snøhetta’s theodore roosevelt library - 1 — entrance signage integrated into the timber facade along the curved envelope | all images ©Studio Loutsis

graphic maps, architecture, and landscape into a unified system

To unify varied scales, from monumental exterior markers to pedestrian trail placards, Studio Loutsis collaborated with Commercial Type to engineer a bespoke typeface, paired with a custom iconography system. Exterior wayfinding incorporates heavy timber pylons, directional panels, campus maps, and dark metal dimensional lettering engineered to withstand North Dakota’s extreme climate while weathering alongside the building envelope.

Fabricated under stringent Living Building Challenge sustainability parameters, all materials, non-toxic coatings, and mechanical assemblies adhere to strict ecological standards. Indoors, signage mounts directly to vertically articulated timber partitions using custom-milled infill blocks, while the central lobby’s ‘Wall of Gratitude’ integrates flush donor wood panels into the primary architectural cladding.

studio loutsis integrates timber wayfinding into snøhetta’s theodore roosevelt library - 2 — interior auditorium identification and directional signage following the library’s material palette

studio loutsis integrates timber wayfinding into snøhetta’s theodore roosevelt library - 3 — Microsoft Gallery identification signage incorporated into the timber-clad entrance

studio-loutsis-timber-wayfinding-theodore-roosevelt-library-designboom-1800-2 — the signage establishes a subtle dialogue between typography, materiality, and architecture

studio loutsis integrates timber wayfinding into snøhetta’s theodore roosevelt library - 4 — custom wood trailhead signage combining directional information with custom map

studio loutsis integrates timber wayfinding into snøhetta’s theodore roosevelt library - 5 — freestanding wayfinding pylon designed to sit naturally within the native Badlands landscape

studio loutsis integrates timber wayfinding into snøhetta’s theodore roosevelt library - 6 — aerial view of the library’s winding pedestrian trails and landscape wayfinding system

studio loutsis integrates timber wayfinding into snøhetta’s theodore roosevelt library - 7 — freestanding, mobile ticketing and check-in signage located in the library’s main lobby

studio loutsis integrates timber wayfinding into snøhetta’s theodore roosevelt library - 8 — a recognition wall integrated into the timber paneling to honor the library’s donors

studio-loutsis-timber-wayfinding-theodore-roosevelt-library-designboom-1800-3 — indoor directional graphics mount flush against the building’s complex timber wall claddings

studio loutsis integrates timber wayfinding into snøhetta’s theodore roosevelt library - 9 — aerial view of the library’s sweeping volume integrated with pedestrian trails and the landscape

studio loutsis integrates timber wayfinding into snøhetta’s theodore roosevelt library - 10 — vehicular signage marks the library’s entrance across the expansive landscape

project info:

name: Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
designer: Studio Loutsis | @studio_loutsis

location: Medora, North Dakota, US

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