04/22/2026
Earth Day is a reminder of something we think about often in our work, how design can support a deeper relationship between people and the natural world.
Our Prairie Pavilion project began with a powerful idea: to restore a 160-acre agricultural site to its original prairie landscape and create a place where the community can engage with that environment in meaningful, lasting ways. Rather than perched on the land, the building emerges from it, supporting education, gathering, and discovery while remaining grounded in its surroundings.
From the start, the project challenged us to think beyond traditional sustainability. Designed as a Living Building Challenge project, the Pavilion aims to give more than it takes by exploring regenerative strategies that support the health of both the ecosystem and the people who experience it. Working alongside a broader team of sustainability and biophilic design experts, the process focused on how light, air, water, and landscape could shape a space that feels connected, responsive, and alive.
The building itself becomes part of a larger story. Visitors move through moments of discovery by entering through the prairie, gathering in outdoor spaces, and experiencing framed views that reconnect them to the landscape. Program elements support learning, community use, and environmental stewardship, while features like rain gardens, compost toilet systems, and future food forests extend that experience beyond the walls.
Projects like this remind us that design can actively contribute to a healthier, more connected future.
Happy Earth Day from the MMA team!
