Wind River Sage Fund Selects Arete Design Group for the Design of New Wind River Tribal Buffalo Center
The Wind River Sage Fund (WRSF) announced today that it selected Arete Design Group of Sheridan, WY to design the new Tribal Buffalo Center to be located at the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative (WRTBI) in Morton, WY. Arete won the contract after competing with 16 other firms for architectural and engineering services. Arete is partnering with the MASS Design Group.
The new 14,400-sq-ft Tribal Buffalo Center will feature a museum, gift shop, mini theater, administrative offices, and conference area. The building will be constructed at WRTBI and conveniently located on Highway 26. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
Jason Baldes is the Executive Director of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative. In speaking about the new construction project, he said, “The return of buffalo to the Shoshone and Arapaho people is the return of a long lost relative, important for ceremony, nutrition, education, and food sovereignty for the people, but also important as part of the land, and to other plants and animals. This building signifies that importance by providing space for community, while providing informative experiences for visitors traveling through the reservation, to learn of our shared history and continued efforts to protect land, water and wildlife.”
Paul F. Huberty, Executive Director of the Wind River Sage Fund, said, “We are very excited to be working with the Arete Design Group on the new Tribal Buffalo Center. This project is the centerpiece of our Recompete grant and represents a $9.75 million investment into the Wind River economy.”
The Tribal Buffalo Center is one of eight grants awarded to WRSF through the Economic Development Administration’s Recompete Pilot Program. WRSF is also making significant investments in workforce training, food sovereignty, health care programs, and land planning.
“We are honored to be a part of this significant project,” said Rachel Delventhal, Principal at Arete. “Its impact will be felt for generations. Arete and MASS Design Group are here to listen to the people, understand the land and the buffalo, and design a center that speaks to the rich history of the Tribes and the deep significance of this place.”
For more information, please visit the Wind River Sage Fund at wrsagefund.org and the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative at windriverbuffalo.org.