The 51′ tall Museum is largely buried into a foothill of the Rockies. The gently curving S-shaped SIREWALL spine runs through the center of the building and acts to moderate temperature and humidity. The single colour variegated sedimentary appearance is similar to much of Wyoming’s exposed geology, which is abundantly evident as one drives through the State. Patrons of the museum go up and down stairs along the SIREWALLs, pass through door openings in the SIREWALL, and are almost always in visual contact with the spine. From near the top of the first flight of stairs one can look up through a skylight and appreciate what 51′ tall SIREWALLs feel like. This experience of vertical scale is in sharp contrast to the understated scale of the building (that is largely buried and relatively invisible).
Concrete slabs at 16′, 32′ and 48′ elevations are carried by the SIREWALLs with the top slab also supporting a green roof
West side has the SIREWALL backfilled to over 30′ deep
Curving 900 sq ft gangforms were able to be reused repeatedly as the radius was constant throughout
Construction took place Jan – June 2014 in temperatures as low as -35°F and with frequent high winds
This is by far the tallest load-bearing modern rammed earth structure on the planet
Location: Big Horn, Wyoming US
Architect / Designer: Malone, Belton, Abel
SIREWALL Expert Team: Terra Firma Builders
Learn in detail what is attracting architects like Foster & Partners and Gensler to this incredible structural wall system and how it may be the perfect fit for your next big project.
