In the heart of White Shield, North Dakota, the White Shield Old Scouts Veterans Memorial Center stands as a testament to cultural heritage, sustainable building practices, and respect for those who served. The center is a state-of-the-art facility built with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) from Fox Blocks by Airlite Plastics Co. of Omaha, Nebraska, honoring tribal veterans while embodying traditional Native American architectural principles.

A Modern Earth Lodge
Inspired by the traditional earth lodges of the Arikara people, this 10,533-square-foot memorial center features a distinctive 12-sided exterior that immediately sets it apart from conventional buildings. The $11 million facility was designed to serve as a place where “White Shield Tribal members can remember, reflect, and celebrate those who gave so much for their people and country, as well as remind future generations of those who served before them,” said Mike Kennaw, a representative of the form manufacturer.

The center’s most striking feature may be its massive geodome skylight. It boasts one of the largest geodome skylights Kalwall/Structures Unlimited has ever built — 54 feet from corner to corner diameter and 50 feet from flat side to flat side diameter. This architectural focal point floods the central gathering space with natural light.

Built for Sustainability and Resilience
Approximately 90% of the exterior walls are constructed with Fox Blocks ICFs, with only the curtainwall, vestibule, and openings utilizing other materials. This construction method not only provides superior insulation in North Dakota’s harsh climate but also yielded significant cost savings.
“ICF saved $120,000 in winter conditions and general condition costs,” Kennaw stated in the project documentation, noting that using ICFs saved approximately 40 days compared to traditional cast-in-place formed walls.

The building’s sustainability features extend beyond its walls. Earth berms surround the exterior, drawing on traditional Indigenous knowledge about passive temperature control. “Pre-contact, earth lodges utilized passive design strategies such as bermed-earth construction to provide stable interior environment conditions in a net zero facility during all seasons,” said Kennaw.

Additional sustainable elements include structural insulated panels (SIPs) for the roof, geothermal heating and cooling throughout, tubular skylights in nearly all perimeter rooms, and natural daylight optimization.
These features combined to create an impressive energy profile. “With the use of ICF walls, the EUI (energy use intensity) of the building as designed is 41.8,” said Kennaw. “Compared to the 64.8 baseline EUI, the design is a 35% reduction.”

Cultural Significance and Design
Inside the center, an eight-sided gathering area serves as the heart of the facility, capable of seating up to 186 people. The space features climate-controlled display cases for cultural and military artifacts, offices for tribal organizations, a secure armory for ceremonial weapons, and a flexible room that can double as a telehealth space. Warm wood elements create a welcoming atmosphere throughout. Picture walls on the north and south sides of the gathering space proudly display images of tribal members who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The 12-sided dodecagon design required precision engineering, particularly at the corners. “Each inside corner of the Memorial Center features precision-engineered glulam embed plates, essential for anchoring the roof structure,” explained Kennaw.

All components of the roof system converge at a central compression ring that bears the load and supports the massive geodome skylight. This intricate assembly demanded expert engineering and craftsmanship to ensure seamless integration and structural integrity.
“A daily challenge was building the complex exterior structure during the harsh North Dakota winters where the team experienced high winds daily,” noted Kennaw. However, the ICF construction method proved advantageous in these conditions, as the insulating properties of the forms helped protect the concrete during curing.

A Model for Indigenous Construction
Beyond serving its immediate community, the White Shield Old Scouts Veterans Memorial Center represents a significant advancement for sustainable construction in tribal communities. “By choosing ICFs as the primary building material, this project is not only a building but a beacon of hope for rural and tribal construction,” said Kennaw. “It’s setting a new standard, leveraging local labor, keeping money within the community, and fostering economic growth.”

The project demonstrates how ICF construction can be particularly advantageous for remote communities. The White Shield Old Scouts Veterans Memorial Center stands as a powerful example of how modern construction techniques can honor traditional designs while creating spaces that are sustainable, resilient, and deeply meaningful to the communities they serve.