Project Description:

The Ravalli Electric Cooperative provides power to the majority of the Bitterroot Valley, spanning from the south end of Lolo to the Idaho border. This region is experiencing a population boom, and with that comes the need for expanded electrical services. This new 58,000 square foot dispatch and operations facility provides the organization with functional efficiency and space for growth in a new location central to their service region.

A mix of wood-framed and pre-fabricated metal buildings, the compound settles comfortably into its rural valley setting. Gable roof forms were incorporated to tie into the pastoral landscape, local design aesthetic and surrounding mountains. These simple forms, nicknamed ‘the huts,’ help organize the programmatic elements, break down the exterior volume and introduce different daylighting effects into the interiors. The crisp, minimal detailing contributes to a contemporary aesthetic that ties in with the building’s technical nature, yet the feeling is still northwest and rural. The public entry and adjacent conference room take on a welcoming lodge-like feel with vaulted wood ceilings, large windows, and natural stone accents.

The facility’s orientation is north-south to take advantage of the Bitterroot mountains’ views to the West. A broad range of departments and functions create a large diversity within the design. Yet all functions are integrally linked and organized to maximize operations efficiency. The public spaces such as entry and training rooms are on the south end. The finance and engineering departments occupy the center of the building. While the linemen’s dispatch room, parts warehouse, vehicle bays, and wash bay are on the north end of the complex. A six-acre staging yard for storing poles and equipment is located behind the vehicle bays.

Combining quality public spaces, generous offices and highly optimized vehicle bays, the new co-op provides an efficient workflow and space for the cooperative’s operations to continue to grow.