THEODORE ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

The Challenge

Set into the buttes above Medora in the North Dakota Badlands, the 96,000-square-foot Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library was designed by Snøhetta, with JLG Architects serving as architect of record and JE Dunn as construction manager.

The design called for four massive pocketing doors that could disappear into the surrounding walls, allowing the main lobby to connect with adjacent exhibit areas or be separated from spaces not in use. The largest door spans an opening 25 feet tall by 14 feet wide and weighs 9,200 pounds. Two others measure 14 feet wide by 15 feet tall, while a fourth, at 14 feet wide by 10 feet tall, encloses the coat check.

Beyond their size, the doors had to accommodate emergency egress from the exhibit areas even when closed, requiring integrated pedestrian doors in the panels that close off those spaces.

The Solution

North Star Millworks fabricated the doors, while Millworks by Design coordinated fabrication, installation and automation.

Constructed from 4-inch-square steel tubing, the largest door was fabricated in two sections and required a mini crane for installation. Rigging locations were incorporated into the fabrication planning to accommodate the lift. To automate the 9,200-pound panel, we specified our Everest motor and a heavy-duty clutch.

When closed, the doors blend into the surrounding walls, maintaining the visual continuity of the interior while separating the spaces. When open, they provide full-height access between the lobby and exhibit areas, accommodating large equipment, including forklifts during construction, and allowing the spaces to connect for events. The coat check door provides the same flexibility at a smaller scale.

The result is a series of large-scale pocketing doors that preserve the architectural intent while providing the access, flexibility and functionality required of the building.

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For the full account of the job, read how the four doors were built and automated.

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