Montana State University is a land-grant institution in Bozeman, Montana, serving over 16,000 students and committed to inclusive education and community engagement. As Montana's flagship research university, MSU prioritizes infrastructure that supports diverse learning environments and honors the Indigenous communities whose ancestral lands the campus occupies. The American Indian Hall outdoor classroom project reflects MSU's dedication to creating culturally significant spaces that serve Indigenous students and the broader campus community for generations to come.
American Indian Hall at Montana State University
Case Study
Square Footage:
3,000 SF outdoor classroom space
Location:
Montana State University Campus, Bozeman, MT
Timeline
3.5 months
Project Scope
Commercial Construction | Outdoor Classroom Build | University Partnership
Industry
Higher Education | Institutional Construction
Blanton Contracting collaborated with Montana State University (MSU) on the completed construction of the Elouise Cobell Garden Arbor, an outdoor classroom at the university’s American Indian Hall, and a landmark project dedicated to supporting Native American students and celebrating Indigenous cultures.
On-Time Delivery of a Landmark Campus Space
the result
Despite the complexity of coordinating among university stakeholders, architects, and trade partners, the project was completed on schedule and within budget—meeting the strict timeline requirements while maintaining the cultural sensitivity and quality standards demanded by the project.
The completed outdoor classroom now serves as a functional, purpose-driven space where students engage with Indigenous education and community programming. MSU's facilities team, Indigenous community stakeholders, and campus leadership recognized the project's success, and Blanton Contracting's disciplined execution reinforced our reputation as a trusted commercial contractor for institutional builds across Bozeman and Southwest Montana.
Designed as a natural, open-air space dedicated to learning, reflection, and connection, the outdoor classroom integrates organic materials and purposeful design elements that echo the cultural values of the communities it serves. The outdoor classroom is surrounded by native grasses, trees, and plants, some selected specifically for ceremonial use, enhancing the sense of place and reinforcing the cultural intention of the space.
The goal for the American Indian Hall outdoor classroom was to create a 3,000-square-foot gathering space that supports Indigenous education and community engagement while meeting the structural and functional requirements of a high-traffic university facility.
Deliver a Culturally Significant Space That Serves Generations of Students
The Goal
Blanton Contracting set out to coordinate the complex stakeholder landscape, including university administrators, facilities managers, architects, and Indigenous community representatives, all while maintaining the disciplined project management and transparent communication that defines our commercial construction approach.
Beyond the physical build, the project needed to reflect the cultural significance of the space itself: a place where students gather, learn, and connect with Indigenous history and community. This required our team to approach the work with respect, intentionality, and a commitment to delivering a space that MSU and the Indigenous community could take pride in for years to come.
The project carried cultural weight beyond typical campus construction, demanding sensitivity, transparent communication, and disciplined execution to meet strict timeline requirements while honoring the space's intended purpose as a gathering place for Indigenous education and community engagement.
The outdoor classroom needed to enhance MSU's campus infrastructure while creating a meaningful, purpose-driven environment built to withstand Montana's climate and serve students for decades. Blanton Contracting was selected to deliver this culturally significant project on time, within budget, and to the exacting standards expected of a high-profile university build.
Montana State University needed a commercial construction contractor capable of handling the complexity of building an outdoor classroom at the American Indian Hall, a project that required coordination among university facilities, architects, Indigenous community stakeholders, and multiple trade partners.
Coordinating a High-Visibility Project with Cultural Significance
the challEnge
- Transparent budget management: Maintained clear cost tracking throughout the build, keeping the university informed of progress and avoiding the surprise change orders that plague institutional projects
- High-visibility campus impact: Delivered a landmark space that enhances MSU's infrastructure and serves as a lasting example of purposeful, culturally significant construction
- Complex stakeholder coordination: Managed communication between university facilities, architects, Indigenous community representatives, and 15+ trade partners without delays or miscommunication
- Cultural sensitivity: Approached the project with respect for the space's significance to Indigenous students and the broader MSU community, ensuring the build honored the classroom's intended purpose
- On-schedule delivery: Met MSU's strict timeline requirements despite mid-project design changes, demonstrating our ability to adapt without compromising quality or pushing deadlines
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
What made this commercial construction project successful:
A powder-coated steel arbor in greens and golds, supported by natural-stained lodgepole pine columns, serves as the classroom's architectural centerpiece. Beneath it, hand-selected dry creek boulders will create natural seating areas alongside carefully placed flagstones. Other features include a natural gas fire pit carved into a massive boulder, hanging fabric shade sails for comfort, and Wi-Fi access and outlets to support laptops and learning devices.
M
“This space reflects our deep commitment to creating environments where Indigenous knowledge, identity, and community are honored and uplifted,” said Meredith Hecker, head of MSU’s Department of Native American Studies. “The outdoor classroom carries cultural significance in both its design and purpose, and each element is a thoughtful expression of respect for the land and cycles that guide traditional knowledge. It is a space for learning, gathering, and deepening our students' connection to land, culture, and community.”
— Meredith H.