Legacy Plaza, UM-Western, Main Hall Improvements
UM-Western Campus, Dillion, MT
Completed August 2015

Richard M. Shanahan Architects, Inc.
15 South Tracy - Suite 13
Bozeman, MT 59715

The Legacy Plaza serves as a gathering and educational space for lectures, concerts, outdoor theater, films and other special events for the UM-Western Campus, in Dillon, Montana. The Plaza was conceived to meet the needs for master planning, campus circulation and grounds improvement. The Plaza served as the fund-raising vehicle to meet a $500,000 legislature funding shortfall for the completion of a four-phase Main Hall Complex Improvements project. The space provides an amphitheater with audiovisual capabilities, grass area with lecture mounds, benches, veterans flag area, natural landscaping and flower beds to accent the surroundings. A large paver area including a compass surrounded by a circular naming design with donors' names engraved in pavers.

This area allows for maximum flexibility for special events the University needs. The Plaza provides a connector and ties the entire campus together that was once divided by an asphalt road. The materials were selected to complement, reflect and harmonize with quality Main Hall Complex Historically Registered buildings. Most importantly, the Plaza is well used and serves as a pleasant experience for students, faculty, staff and visitors to UM-Western campus.

Design Team:
· Richard M. Shanahan, AIA - Architect
· Kenneth R Sievert, AIA - Historical Architect
· Michael Potter, ASLA - Landscape Architect
· Kerin Associates - Civil Engineering
· GPD Consulting Engineers - Electrical Engineering

Legacy Plaza, UM-Western, Main Hall Improvements
UM-Western Campus, Dillion, MT
Completed August 2015

Richard M. Shanahan Architects, Inc.
15 South Tracy - Suite 13
Bozeman, MT 59715

The Legacy Plaza serves as a gathering and educational space for lectures, concerts, outdoor theater, films and other special events for the UM-Western Campus, in Dillon, Montana. The Plaza was conceived to meet the needs for master planning, campus circulation and grounds improvement. The Plaza served as the fund-raising vehicle to meet a $500,000 legislature funding shortfall for the completion of a four-phase Main Hall Complex Improvements project. The space provides an amphitheater with audiovisual capabilities, grass area with lecture mounds, benches, veterans flag area, natural landscaping and flower beds to accent the surroundings. A large paver area including a compass surrounded by a circular naming design with donors' names engraved in pavers.

This area allows for maximum flexibility for special events the University needs. The Plaza provides a connector and ties the entire campus together that was once divided by an asphalt road. The materials were selected to complement, reflect and harmonize with quality Main Hall Complex Historically Registered buildings. Most importantly, the Plaza is well used and serves as a pleasant experience for students, faculty, staff and visitors to UM-Western campus.

Design Team:
· Richard M. Shanahan, AIA - Architect
· Kenneth R Sievert, AIA - Historical Architect
· Michael Potter, ASLA - Landscape Architect
· Kerin Associates - Civil Engineering
· GPD Consulting Engineers - Electrical Engineering

How to Be an Architect

Architects must be licensed before they can practice as an architect or call themselves an architect. There are three main steps in becoming an architect: education, internship and examination.

  • Education: The Montana State University School of Architecture offers a Master of Architecture professional degree that is fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite.
  • Internship: Most state architectural registration boards require architectural graduates to complete an internship in order to become licensed.
  • Examination: All states require the completion of the Architect Registration Examination, in order to gain licensure within the 54 jurisdictions covered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB).


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