Cushing Terrell

There’s so much that goes into designing a space, especially when it not only needs to serve a specific function but also honor sacred beliefs and practices. A beautiful example of this is the smudge room within the Montana Heritage Center, made possible through the cultural design direction of Major Robinson and the project’s Tribal Stakeholder Group.

In this Smithsonian Magazine article, learn about the importance of the smudge room, the difference between a groundbreaking and a ground blessing, and many of the other ways the planning and design of the Montana Heritage Center was directly informed by and embody the rich cultural heritage of the 13 sovereign tribal nations across the state.

“This museum is not just the past,” Major Robinson states in the article, “It’s who we are today, and you see us for who we are.”

Our design team members were honored to work with Major and the Tribal Stakeholder Group on these highly meaningful spaces.

Find the full article: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/montana-built-a-107-million-museum-its-smallest-room-says-a-lot-about-the-thought-that-went-into-designing-the-space-180989453/

Montana Built a $107 Million Museum. Its Smallest Room Says a Lot About the Thought That Went Into Designing the Space The Montana Heritage Center in Helena has a smudge room. It is open to the public and teaches non-Native visitors why a room dedicated to the burning of cleansing materials, a practice of many Indigenous cultures, is needed

As part of ULI Idaho’s Women in Leadership initiative, Amy Lindgren, senior architect with Cushing Terrell, will join Jordan Heller with St. Luke's Health System, Kathryn Hunter with the Treasure Valley Family YMCA, Caitlin Kessler with erstad, and moderator Christine Nguyen Herrick with Kimley-Horn for a panel discussion on how the built environment shapes our health.

Moving beyond traditional clinical settings, this discussion highlights how housing, fitness, and social infrastructure all contribute to healthier communities. Through the lens of local projects — including St. Luke’s, Interfaith Sanctuary, and the YMCA — attendees will gain insight into how design and development influence well-being at every level.

Learn more and register for the event: https://idaho.uli.org/events/detail/FC255969-6F9D-49E3-8F79-F2C8541C9A43/

Today the marks the start of career fair season, and we're super excited to get out and about and meet with students at a campus near you.

Today, civil engineers Michael White and Anna Greulich attended the Colorado School of Mines career fair, while Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood, an architect and structural engineer, and Matthew Houston, also a structural engineer, connected with students at Texas A&M University.

Find the schedule of where we'll be this fall and learn more about working at Cushing Terrell by visiting the Career Connect page on our website: https://cushingterrell.com/career-fair-connect/

New podcast episode drop! This week, we're talking to Cushing Terrell historic preservation manager, Murray Miller. We discuss safeguarding historic places for the benefit of present and future generations, while updating structures with necessary modernisms. He walks us through how the practice of historic preservation has been challenged through the decades and posits that efforts to make historic preservation more prevalent has also made it more transparent, accountable, and overall inclusive for all who enjoy these spaces.

"Historic preservation is often described as a conversation with our past about our future. It’s a way of engaging with history, not just to remember it, but to understand its relevance to present and future generations," Murray says. "It's not about freezing a place in time and restricting the most insignificant interventions. Rather, it’s about understanding the importance of a place and how we execute what is, essentially, the management of change."

Listen to the episode on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07SQN30

Join David Loehr, architect and Minneapolis location director with Cushing Terrell, for his presentation, “Technical, Infrastructure, and Community Drivers Shaping Tomorrow's Data Centers,” as part of the Minnesota Commercial Association of Real Estate/Realtors (MNCAR) emerging leaders program.

The event will be held on September 23, from 12-1:00 p.m., at Minnesota State University, Mankato's Edina room. Make sure to mark your calendars and gain insights from David, who has nearly 40 years of architectural design experience and is known for his advocacy of community-driven projects.

Find more information about the event on the MNCAR website: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07PyQx0

On the boards: The renovation of the Ravalli County Federal Credit Union in the City of Hamilton, Montana, will support the client's continued growth and commitment to member service. The 9,025 sq. ft. project is intended to modernize the existing facility with a complete exterior refresh, relocation of the teller line and drive-through, a new roof, clerestory windows that bring in abundant natural light, a second-floor addition, and rooftop solar panels.

See the entire project capsule on our website: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07Mdv80

Some projects are smaller in scale but mighty in terms of impact, and that’s how we feel about the stair tower enclosure and elevator modernization project at the 9th and Front parking garage in Boise, Idaho. Bringing safety, accessibility, and aesthetic improvements, the Capital City Development Corporation project aims to enhance the functionality of the 20-year-old parking garage that accommodates more than 800 vehicles per day.

With the design complete, we're excited to see Andersen Construction kick of their work this month!

Learn more about the inspiration behind the design of the stair tower and how it will benefit visitors to downtown Boise: https://ccdcboise.com/ccdc-projects/9th-and-front-garage-elevator-modernization-and-stair-tower-enclosure/

We’re looking forward to participating in the Montana Ambassadors Annual Convening, set for September 15-16. This year's theme, “The Next 250: Why Montana,” will explore the state’s history and future while honoring Montana's tribal nations as being foundational to both.

As one of the speakers, Anthony Houtz, an architect and principal with Cushing Terrell, will speak to the partnerships and creative legacy behind the design of the Carter County Museum and the Montana Heritage Center.

Learn more about the event: https://www.montanaambassadors.com/events

Today, the Eagle Fire Protection District, in partnership with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service (WFS) and the Idaho Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Fire District, broke ground on a new, 18,000 sq. ft., dual-purpose firefighting facility, just west of Highway 55, near Beacon Light Road in the City of Eagle, Idaho. The project is due to open fall 2027.

The L-shaped facility will comprise two separate buildings abutting each other on a 4.40-acre site that includes shared space for training and firefighting vehicles with direct access to Highway 55, as well as separate areas that will support the operational needs of each agency. The innovative, design-build project will result in buildings that are separated structurally, mechanically, and electrically, while allowing joint use of the optimally located site.

The Eagle Fire Department facility will include three apparatus bays, and administrative, training and living spaces. The WFS and BLM facility will feature four engine bays, offices, training rooms, fitness areas, restrooms/showers, and break rooms.

Read about the project on our website: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07CWFx0

U.S. Department of the Interior

Earlier this month, we celebrated 88 years since our firm’s founding, and with that milestone, we thought it would be a great opportunity to interview our longest-tenured team member, Gene Kolstad, for our next People Passions feature.

An architect, principal, and former Cushing Terrell president and CEO, Gene has been with Cushing Terrell for 60 years and even knew our founders, Ralph Cushing and Everett Terrell. He generously shared stories of working on the Olympics venue in Atlanta, Georgia, his strong familial connection to building and design, and his memories of how our firm’s founders conducted themselves — which have embedded themselves into the culture of the firm they built.

Learn more about Gene and the work that inspires him: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07tqLX0