Yellowstone Hall - Montana State University

Bozeman, MT

115,500 sf

SMA Architects is extremely proud to have teamed with Montana State University, Langlas and Associates and partner firm NAC Architecture on the Yellowstone Hall. The incredible team partnership and collaboration drove the success of the project, which was designed and built a challenging time frame.

The residence hall, which opened to students for the fall semester of 2016, was designed to house 400 students in ten 40-resident “communities” on the west side of campus near Roskie Hall and the Hedges Complex.

Primarily designated for freshmen students, the building was designed to promote community and interaction for students new to MSU’s Bozeman campus.

The 115,000 square foot facility provides students with a number of different public and private living areas including active and quiet lounges in each community, as well as a large living room/recreation area. An open kitchen and student laundry are located on the first floor, offering yet another opportunity to create community and student interaction
The building’s unique shape was derived from the desire to optimize views and solar access to each of the ten communities while focusing student interaction and circulation at the central community hub.

The residence hall also has a focus on resource conservation and sustainability. The design team focused on opportunities to use the building as a tool to educate residents on what it means to live sustainability while implementing sustainable technologies and strategies. The building targeted LEED Silver but ultimately achieved LEED Gold Certification.