The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society
Campus Master Plan, New Museum and Learning Center DeSmet, South Dakota
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society Campus Master Plan, New Museum and Learning Center
project description The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society have been the protectors and archivists of Laura’s well known childhood days in South Dakota. Formed in 1957, the society’s mission is dedicated to preserving her legacy now and for the future. The society, based in DeSmet, SD, welcomes tourists and scholars alike to their collection of historic homes and vast archive. Realizing the necessity for a long-term strategic growth and campus plan, combined with the day to day operation of the museum, an ambitious, phased Master Plan project was initiated. No clear or agreed upon vision existed for the architectural or programmatic future of the campus. Opinions from the board of directors varied between the need for only annual maintenance and upkeep, to longterm visioning for future generations with the expansion of the museum, new education programming, and full restoration and enclosure of its signature building, the Surveyor’s House. The Surveyor’s House was home to
the Ingalls family when they first arrived in DeSmet in 1879. This project involves both the architectural and programmatic master plan for the society and its campus, and the concept design for a new and expanded museum, gallery and learning center (as yet unbuilt). The Master Plan balances the goals of increased visitation, maintenance and restoration of historic buildings, and larger exhibition and retail spaces, with the reality of a small-town, seasonal museum operating on a modest annual budget. Including the adjacent and underutilized city park into the plan greatly expands outdoor activities. The New Museum and Learning Center replaces the deteriorating Gift Shop building and proposes a Surveyor’s Pavilion, permanently covering the Surveyor’s House, and allowing for a full historical restoration. The new buildings organize around a courtyard, which becomes the public center of the campus.
The Surveyor’s House (1878), lived in by the Ingalls family 1879-80. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society 2
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Existing Campus. Left: Aerial view, showing LIW Campus (at left) and DeSmet City Park (at right). Right, top to bottom: The Gift Shop; The Brewster School (left) and the First School (1880); The Discovery Center; campus landscaping. 1) The Surveyor’s House
5) Brewster School
2) The Gift Shop
6) public restrooms
3) Archives building
7) The Discovery Center
4) First School
8) Picnic Shelter and playground
Campus Master Plan, New Museum and Learning Center 3
background Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) is best known for her series of ‘Little House’ books which she wrote and first published between 1932-43. These children’s books spawned the well known 1970s television series Little House on the Prairie, and continue to be popularly successful to this day. Annual celebrations and pageants are held in many of the states in which she lived, including South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Laura lived in DeSmet, SD for most of her adolescence, first in the Surveyor’s House and then in ‘Pa’s House,’ both of which now belong to The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society. Other historic buildings, most notably the First School, where Laura attended as a girl, also belong to the society. These buildings, plus an outstanding archive of documents and objects, have formed the basis of
this seasonal, small town museum. The Master Plan project was initiated to examine how best to move forward, both for the short-term upkeep of the campus collection, and in the long-term for increased exhibition and gallery space, the development of education and outreach programming, and full historical restoration/ preservation of the Surveyor’s House. Previous studies and proposals, including one from the state Historic Preservation Office, date back to the 1970s, when the society first acquired the Surveyor’s House and Pa’s House. Little action has been taken beyond annual maintenance. The Surveyor’s House is most in need of attention, having been moved from its original location (1880s) and resided in through the 1930s, when it was re-clad and painted. Various calls for full a historical restoration, and/or enclosure of the entire structure, have been made over the years.
Left: Laura Ingalls Wilder, c1885 (unknown photographer, public domain). Center & Right: Title pages and pages from ‘The Surveyor’s House’ chapter, in By the Shores of Silver Lake, first published in 1939. Following Page: Detail of DeSmet, SD map, published by Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1909.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society 4
CURRENT DeSMET CITY PARK CURRENT LIW CAMPUS
Pa’s House
Campus Master Plan, New Museum and Learning Center 5
master plan The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society Master Plan describes both short-term and long-term goals for the physical campus and buildings, potential phasing of work and construction, and the educational and experiential outcomes desired as an internationally recognized museum and learning center. As the society expands it is important that the “small town” atmosphere of DeSmet is maintained, and that its mission is reinforced as an educational museum and research center, remaining viable for generations to come. Recognizing that the society is in the position to make commitments to preservation, education, exhibition, research, and both the local and international ‘Laura’ communities, the Master Plan strategizes architectural and programmatic goals. Open discussion and brainstorming followed, along with various growth
iterations. A Programming Analysis flow chart (following page) was developed to prioritize needs, develop phasing, and create architectural vision. Ultimately, the following outcomes and goals were developed: 1) increased amounts, improved locations, and greater flexibility of exhibition and gallery spaces 2) short and long-term strategies for the Surveyor’s House (restoration, historic preservation, and enclosure into its own pavilion) 3) short and long-term strategies for the Museum, Learning Center, and Gift Shop (replacement of existing house with a new facility) 4) expanding, integrating, and activating the campus, including shared growth into the city park 5) improved functionality and better separation for administrative and research spaces
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Programming Analysis Flow Chart
NEW LIW EXHIBIT AND EDUCATION SPACES
SURVEYOR'S HOUSE ENCLOSE
RESTORE "AS-IS" Maintains Horizontal Siding & White Paint; Open to the elements; Ugrades to siding, basement, insulation, etc. as recommended.
NEW BUILDING(S)
RESTORE TO ORIGINAL BOARD & BATTEN Historical Restoration / Preservation per guidelines from previous reports and surveys; Open to the elements.
NEW BUILDING(S)
PARTIAL ENCLOSURE & ADDITION Exposes some of the original Board & Batten as part of an attached (large or small) building addition; restores the rest "as-is."
NEW BUILDING(S)
SMALL BUILDING "Shrink Wrap" Historical Restoration Restore to original Board & Batten; Surveyor's House to be enclosed entirely by a new building with no additional museum uses added.
NEW BUILDING
LARGE BUILDING "Archeological Site" Historical Restoration Restore to original Board & Batten; Surveyor's House to be enclosed within a larger museum building that includes new public areas, gift shop, exhibit and education areas.
REPLACE
NEW GIFT SHOP BUILDING Remove original Gift Shop house and replace new.
RELOCATED HISTORIC HOUSE(S) New LIW building(s) to be purchases of other old houses, relocated to campus & reused for the museum; Maintains "small house" scale.
GIFT SHOP
RESTORE
RESTORE "AS-IS" (option 'a') Repair & restore existing Gift Shop, per recommendations; Maintain Gift Shop program & location "as-is." RESTORE "AS-IS" (option 'b') Repair & restore existing Gift Shop, per recommendations; Re-program the building to include exhibits & move gift shop location. RESTORE WITH ADDITION Repair & restore existing Gift Shop with a new addition to the house and/or the archive building.
not attached to Surveyor's House
not attached to Surveyor's House
and or
NEW BUILDING(S)
and or
NEW BUILDING(S)
NEW BUILDING(S) optional
attached to Surveyors' House
attached/covers Surveyor's House
and or
NEW BUILDING(S)
NEW BUILDING
NEW BUILDING(S)
and or
NEW BUILDING(S)
NEW BUILDING(S)
and or
NEW BUILDING(S)
NEW BUILDING(S)
and or
BLDG ADD'N
plus optional
NEW BLDG
and or
and or
Based upon City permission, Park improvements, or the "dedication" of the park for LIW "campus-use," can expand locations for public events, activities, and building acquisition. The Discovery Center provides an excellent example of how LIW can enliven the park through its own activities and uses. • improve planting / landscaping • create "Great Lawn" or play space • new building(s) as part of LIW campus • new building(s) as part of city tourism • shield / replace public restrooms • relocate picnic shelter • improve playground
PARKING
Controlling cars and improving parking areas on Olivet Street will improve the "small town" scale on the LIW campus and in the park.
attached/covers Surveyor's House and Gift Shop (optional)
NEW BUILDING(S)
*USE OF CITY PARK
NEW BUILDING(S)
NEW BUILDING(S)
NEW BUILDING(S)
• eliminate the gravel parking area on the east side of Olivet Street, and restore a sidewalk and proper park entry • improve the parking lot north of the intersection of 1st and Olivet • improve and mark all crosswalks • allow parallel street parking only • narrow Olivet Ave near campus
CAMPUS
Overall masterplanning must consider the "long-range" function, program, landscaping, and indoor & outdoor spaces of the campus. Recent work in upgrading the campus landscaping provides excellent nearterm improvements, but may not be adequate for this masterplan. • maintain mature trees • maintain outdoor seating areas • "frame" views of campus buildings • improve outdoor "play" spaces and gathering areas • develop a consistent sidewalk design strategy
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ADDITIONAL MASTERPLANNING STRATEGIES
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Campus Master Plan, New Museum and Learning Center 7
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RESTROOMS
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RESTROOMS
RESTROOMS
NEW LIW BUILDING: shown: 2-story, 2000 sf "house"
NEW LIW BUILDING: shown: 2-story, 2000 sf "house"
BREWSTER SCHOOL
EXISTING CITY PARK
EXISTING CITY PARK
FIRST SCHOOL
SURVEYOR'S HOUSE
EXISTING GIFT SHOP
ARCHIVE BLD
PLAYGROUND
PARKING
ARCHIVE BLD
PLAYGROUND
PLAYGROUND
NEW LIW BUILDING: shown: 2-story, 6000 sf "large house" replaces existing Gift Shop
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EXISTING GIFT SHOP
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EXISTING
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EXISTING GIFT SHOP
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NEW EDUCATION "PAVILION": shown: 2-story, 2000 sf building
NEW SURVEYOR'S HOUSE "SHRINK WRAP" BUILDING: shown: 1-story, 1800 sf building covers Surveyor's House for historically accurate restoration
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RESTROOMS
NEW BREWSTER SCHOOL "PAVILION": shown: 1-story, 1200 sf building covers Brewster School
NEW SURVEYOR'S HOUSE "PAVILION": shown: 1-story, 1800 sf building covers Surveyor's House for historically accurate restoration
NEW SURVEYOR'S HOUSE "PAVILION": shown: 1-story, 1800 sf building covers Surveyor's House for historically accurate restoration
OPTIONAL "OPEN PAVILION" BUILDING: open air structure as-shown, "roof only" covering Surveyor's House
BREWSTER SCHOOL
EXISTING CITY PARK
gallery/exhib
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remove back entry
OPTION: RELOCATE BREWSTER SCHOOL
ARCHIVE BLD
its
EXISTING GIFT SHOP
DISCOVERY CENTER
ENCLOSED / RESTORED SURVEYOR'S HOUSE gallery/exhib
remove back entry
PICNIC SHELTER
PICNIC SHELTER
EXISTING PLAYGROUND
ENCLOSED PAVILION CONNECTION (OPTIONAL) gallery and exhibition space
ARCHIVE BLD
PLAYGROUND gallery/exhib its
PLAYGROUND
EXISTING CITY PARK
EXISTING
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FIRST SCHOOL
DISCOVERY CENTER
ENCLOSED / RESTORED SURVEYOR'S HOUSE gallery/exhib
PICNIC SHELTER
EXISTING
EXISTING GIFT SHOP
ENCLOSED BREWSTER SCHOOL
DISCOVERY CENTER
ENCLOSED / RESTORED SURVEYOR'S HOUSE remove back entry
PARKING
FIRST SCHOOL
gallery/exhib
gallery/exhib
its
its
flex space open classr / ooms
its
EXISTING CITY PARK
gallery/exhib
BREWSTER SCHOOL
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PLAYGROUND
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DISCOVERY CENTER
PICNIC SHELTER
NEW LIW BUILDING: shown: 2-story, 5000 sf building attached to Surveyor's House and Gift Shop ARCHIVE BLD
PLAYGROUND
OLIVET EET
gift shop
NEW MUSEUM "PAVILION": shown: 2-story, 5000 sf building new Gift Shop, Exhibition space Classroom / Flex space upstairs
OLIVET
OLIVET AVENUE
AVENUE
AVENUE
enlarged archive building connection
OLIVET
ARCHIVE BLD
FIRST SCHOOL
new attached connection
D
gallery/exhib
EXISTING CITY PARK
PICNIC SHELTER
EXISTING GIFT SHOP
AVENUE
PLAYGROUND
BREWSTER SCHOOL
DISCOVERY CENTER
RELOCATED BREWSTER SCHOOL
EXISTING
PARKING
PICNIC SHELTER
EXISTING CITY PARK
SURVEYOR'S HOUSE
DISCOVERY CENTER
1ST STR
FIRST SCHOOL
RESTROOMS
PARKING
new attached connection
EXISTING CITY PARK
SURVEYOR'S HOUSE
ARCHIVE BLD
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PARKING
new attached connection
BREWSTER SCHOOL
C
NEW LIW BUILDING: shown: 2-story, 5000 sf building attached to Surveyor's House
NEW LIW BUILDING: shown: 2-story, 2200 sf addition attached to Surveyor's House
FIRST SCHOOL
PICNIC SHELTER
EXISTING
EXISTING GIFT SHOP
NEW LIW BUILDING: shown: 2-story, 2000 sf "house"
1ST STR
DISCOVERY CENTER
PICNIC SHELTER
EXISTING
PARKING EXISTING
ARCHIVE BLD
SURVEYOR'S HOUSE
DISCOVERY CENTER
NEW LIW BUILDING: shown: 2-story, 3000 sf "house"
PICNIC SHELTER
EXISTING CITY PARK
FIRST SCHOOL
SURVEYOR'S HOUSE
DISCOVERY CENTER
NEW LIW BUILDING: shown: 2-story, 5000 sf addition
BREWSTER SCHOOL
PARKING
BREWSTER SCHOOL
FIRST SCHOOL
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Preliminary LIW Campus Master Plan studies, showing iterations based on the Programming Analysis (previous page): A-B: new buildings, not attached to Surveyor’s House; C: new buildings, not attached to Surveyor’s House & replacing Gift Shop; D-F: new building(s) attached to Surveyor’s House; G-H: pavilion schemes; I: pavilion scheme & replacing Gift Shop. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society 8
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Final Master Plan 1) New Museum & Learning Center
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2) Restored Surveyor’s House
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3) New Surveyor’s Pavilion
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4) Archives building 5) First School 6) Relocated Brewster School 7) LIW Courtyard 8) Event Center (future) 9) Playground 10) Discovery Center 11) Great Lawn 12) Flower Garden 13) Picnic Pavilion (future) 14) Relocated restrooms (future) 15) Off-street & school bus parking
Campus Master Plan, New Museum and Learning Center 9
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new museum & learning center The concept design for the first phase of the master plan describes the initial scheme (yet unbuilt; no schedule exists at this time) for a New Museum and Learning Center. The building replaces the existing and deteriorating Gift Shop house, providing additional gallery, exhibition, and educational areas. It is attached (now or in a future phase) to a new Surveyor’s Pavilion, a clear spanning building that exclusively displays the Surveyor’s House, which will be moved and realigned, undergoing a full historical restoration. The restoration will be public, with work ongoing and open to visitors. The New Museum and Learning Center scheme describes initial ideas for additions and alterations to the campus and its historic buildings. It represents the first attempt at “visualizing” the architecture, landscape, materiality and scale of the many proposals and alternatives. The three-story Museum and Learning Center building (11,600 sf) is scaled to match the existing residential neighborhood and 19th century campus. Cleanly massed
with both centered and offset gable roofs, the building is proportioned into smaller pieces, each top-lit with its own roof opening. Natural light is allowed to filter to the lower level classroom and flex space. Increased gallery areas allow much more of the society’s collection to be displayed. This larger, permanent museum will now be open to year-round visitation and greatly increase educational programming. The Surveyor’s Pavilion (5,100 sf) provides a permanent, enclosed and stable environment for the Surveyor’s House. Complete visual separation was a requirement of the board. The house will be restored following state historic guidelines, most notably back to its original board & batten siding and wood shake roof. The house is set on new concrete beams, opening to a lower level ‘restoration gallery’ and exposing the original 2x6 floor framing from below. Full enclosure of the Surveyor’s House will provide a long anticipated escape from the elements, and an opportunity to publicly restore an original, vernacular landmark from the settlement days of the Dakotas.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society 10
Preliminary museum & pavilion sketches.
Campus Master Plan, New Museum and Learning Center 11
Working model. Left: View of Surveyor’s Pavilion (far left) and LIW Courtyard. Top Right: View of Museum & Learning Center (foreground) and Surveyor’s Pavilion beyond. Bottom Right: View of the ‘roof-opening’ concept for the Museum & Learning Center building.
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New Museum & Learning Center 1) entry/porch
8) relocated Brewster School
2) gift shop
9) video gallery
3) gallery
10) classroom/flex space
4) restored Surveyor’s House
11) activity area
5) archive building
12) restoration gallery
6) courtyard
13) balcony
7) First School
14) storage
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Upper Level Plan
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Main Level & LIW Campus Plan
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Lower Level Plan
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SURVEYOR'S PAVILION
restored Surveyor's House inside
BALCONY PORCH MUSEUM & GIFT SHOP ENTRY
new exposed concrete beams to support house Lower Level Restoration Gallery: open views to underside of house
East Elevation SURVEYOR'S PAVILION
restored Surveyor's House inside FIRST SCHOOL
RELOCATED BREWSTER SCHOOL
new exposed concrete beams to support house Lower Level Restoration Gallery: open views to underside of house
North Elevation
MUSEUM & GIFT SHOP ENTRY ARCHIVE BUILDING
South Elevation SURVEYOR'S PAVILION
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society 14 BALCONY
restored Surveyor's House inside
restored Surveyor's House inside
new exposed concrete beams to support house Lower Level Restoration Gallery: open views to underside of house
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Longitudinal Section 1) entry
6) classroom/flex space
2) gift shop
7) activity area
3) gallery
8) restoration gallery
4) restored Surveyor’s House
9) balcony
5) video gallery
10) storage
Campus Master Plan, New Museum and Learning Center 15
new exposed concrete beams to support house
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Lower Level Restoration Gallery: open views to underside of house
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The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society 16