Arup celebrates completion of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

Arup led the library’s lighting, acoustics, audiovisual, and theatre design, focused on the longevity and sustainability of material selections. The lighting design balances visitor comfort with environmental stewardship, minimizing light pollution, glare, and energy use while creating welcoming environments day and night. The exterior lighting supports intuitive wayfinding without uniform illumination to protect wildlife and meet the library’s sustainability goals. For the library’s acoustic and theater design, the firm focused on realizing an immersive performance environment while respecting the character of the natural landscape. Arup incorporated sound absorbing finishes made from sustainable materials that visually complement the mass timber structure, creating architecturally integrated and discrete acoustic treatments. The firm additionally collaborated with exhibit designer Local Projects to deliver flexible lighting and acoustic strategies to realize the library’s immersive exhibit design.  

“The completion of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library embodies how intentional design can honor history, place, and environmental stewardship at once,” said Kristen Garibaldi, Senior Consultant at Arup. “In our work, we sought to create a space that leaves everyone who enters with a deeper connection to the legacy the library was built to carry forward.” 

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is a testament to what is possible when visionary organizations align toward a common civic goal. Arup's contributions have been woven into the very fabric of the institution, supporting the transition from a bold architectural concept to a living center for dialogue and discovery. This partnership reinforces a shared commitment to Roosevelt’s vision of active citizenship and environmental stewardship. 

By investing in the long-term mission of the TRPL, Arup has helped create a sustainable, carbon-neutral beacon for conservation and a training ground for the leaders of tomorrow. The firm’s work also adheres to the facility's goal of achieving the Living Building Challenge Certification, which is the world’s most rigorous performance standard for green buildings. 

The library officially opens to the public on July 4, 2026, offering immersive experiences that challenge every visitor to leave Medora ready to “get in the arena” in their own communities.