MHA SPIRITUAL CENTER

New Town, ND

During the EMHC Master planning effort, the MHA Nation determined a need for a Spiritual Center to provide a sacred and inclusive space dedicated to serving the spiritual and collective needs of the community.  This culturally significant building will be designed on a 3-acre site overlooking the Elbowoods Memorial Health Campus and just off the HWY 23 bypass, in New Town North Dakota.

The Spiritual Center was intended to provide a serene and culturally authentic environment for the important life events of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation tribal members, such as weddings, funerals, and be a hub for various community gatherings. Through an extensive design process, the Spiritual Center was designed to accommodate 100-200 people comfortably in a variety of event set-ups. Patrons are greeted by the welcoming embrace of an earth lodge inspired lobby, featuring traditional circular heavy timber structure. A pre-function space serves as a secondary gathering and support space for the main ceremonial gathering room, ideal for coffee and drink service. The main ceremonial gathering space features a tall sloping ceiling, floor-to-ceiling glass walls on two sides with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape and a movable wall that can partition the room into two smaller areas. The Spiritual Center also includes administrative offices for event coordination, multi-purpose rooms for private gatherings or wedding event ready rooms, and a large-scale commercial kitchen to service a range of events. The location allows the Spiritual center to function as a visual and spiritual focal point for the EMHC Campus below and greater community of New Town.