mha swift eagle james g. johnson activity center: people of the willow | mandan, nd

This 92,900 square-foot activity center will be the new heart of the community. The structure is designed to emulate an earth lodge with a circular form, and includes a Pendleton inspired skylight. Eagle’s Nest Butte, known to the MHA Nation as “The White Lodge that Stands”, is a landmark that has historically been a way-finding tool for the MHA people. The center not only takes materiality references from Eagle Nest, but the axis of the building is also oriented towards the Butte, symbolically pointing the residents “home”. The interior design is themed around the four seasons, with colors and materials in each quadrant representing the circle of life.

The facility includes an aquatics center, fitness center, community room, commercial kitchen, golf simulators, gymnasium, and food court. The Mandaree people are proud of their heritage and their military involvement.  To honor this, the Mandaree Community Center (MCC) was designed with its walls of the observation deck that orients to the Eagles nest while the walls that flank it tell a story of the fallen native Americans who fought for this country to protect the land. 

The Activity Center is currently under construction and is part of the Mandaree Wellness Campus which will provide a community gathering place for the residents of Mandaree.

The project is currently under construction to be completed in 2026.