The Wildlands Development, a mixed-use renovation and expansion project in Northeast Bozeman, Montana, has been recognized as a finalist in the 8th annual GRAY Awards in the Mixed-Use Development category. The project, designed by 45 Architecture & Interiors, aimed to integrate seamlessly into the neighborhood fabric.
Care was taken to enhance public walkways with custom fabricated seating, new landscaping, and large soffits that provide cover for the community to gather. The building steps up to its 3-story full height as you move away from the street, making the transition feel more natural from the 1-2-story buildings surrounding it.
Regionally appropriate materials such as brick and wood siding were used, and murals were painted on areas of the façade to tie into its surroundings, which is a distinctly artistic neighborhood within Bozeman. Wildlands was conceived as a connection point within a growing neighborhood that still wanted to maintain its sense of community.
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The Scandinavian modern aesthetic of the building was inspired by this juxtaposition, and it increased the focus on the pedestrian and neighborhood experience. The development is a reuse and adaptation of an existing building, designed with great care to protect and insulate the occupants of the residential spaces.
Inside each unit, Energy Star-rated appliances were installed, along with programmable thermostats and advanced Low-E insulating dual pane windows with argon. They used the highest-efficiency furnaces (98% efficient) in every unit, and each include a modulating, variable-speed fan to reduce and manage energy usage.
The exterior of the building leverages steel and low-maintenance Kebony-modified wood siding, which is sustainably harvested and requires no maintenance beyond regular cleaning. Landscaping includes drought-tolerant and water-smart planting selections, and the residential garage includes an EV charging station with four other EV-ready stalls.
For the people living in the neighborhood, the development means having a community-centered space that combines residential, commercial, and public areas, making it easier to access local businesses and services while maintaining a sense of community.
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The project was an exercise in problem-solving, requiring the design team to tackle conditions such as an infill site with tight property boundaries, and two food & beverage anchor tenants, which remained open throughout the entirety of construction. It is located within the Bozeman Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District, requiring the design to be evaluated for appropriateness within the Northeast Neighborhood, a historic and iconic area north of Downtown Bozeman.
Upon completion, the building fits naturally into the site and was instantly adopted by the community as the gathering hub for art, entertainment, and conversations for which it was designed.
It is a space.
