SOUTHERN UTE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY CENTER

SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN TRIBE CAMPUS

IGNACIO, COLORADO | 50,000 SQFT | COMPLETED IN 2001

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe wanted to create a place of permanence for their historically nomadic people. The Academy, Dining Hall and Community Center are the first phase of a master plan that features a village of buildings linked by a ceremonial walkway. Located on a historically significant site, the buildings incorporate the natural surroundings and many cultural elements to reflect the Tribe’s values.

The Community Center is nestled into the earth in order to minimize its impact on the surrounding buildings; its soft form blends into the background and the roof mimics the mountains beyond. The gymnasium has a wall of doors that open towards the East, symbolically the most important compass point in Southern Ute culture. The program is intended to meet the needs of the mind, body and spirit by providing space for the school, for the community at large and for traditional Southern Ute ceremonies.