Case Studies

The Montana Historical Society in Helena has been a cornerstone for preserving and sharing the state’s rich history for over a century. By the 2000s, the original building faced limitations: gallery space was constrained, artifact storage was insufficient, and the existing museum experience was not fully accessible to the public. To address these challenges, a 75,000-square-foot addition was added to the existing 96,000-square-foot building, allowing for an expanded Homeland Gallery experience, along with additional space for events, museum offices, a gift shop, and improved artifact storage. This addition, known as the Montana Heritage Center, was designed to create a more accessible and engaging experience for visitors.      

A key interior element of the project is the Homeland Gallery entry feature wall, commissioned by a donor who wanted a visually striking centerpiece that would complement the museum’s mission and provide a contemporary “wow factor.” The design team, led by Anthony Houtz, explored multiple material options before selecting a hybrid system of StoneLite^® panels paired with dimensional Kasota Valley^® Limestone. The goal was to achieve a natural, textured appearance while accommodating the complex sloping geometry of the installation. 

Anthony Houtz of Cushing Terrell noted, “We were adamant that the joints couldn’t look like tile. The feature had to feel solid, like it was a massive piece of stone. We knew that StoneLite panels would be the best way to get authentic stone in a lightweight format.” The final solution involved carefully welded StoneLite panels, combined with specific limestone inserts, to create the illusion of a monolithic stone wall. The panels were tailored to work around integrated LED fissures and projection elements, allowing the gallery to display dynamic content over the stone backdrop. 

The installation required precise coordination between the design team, engineers, and the mason to achieve the desired textures, sloping angles, and seamless panel connections. This collaborative effort ensured that the feature wall maintained its structural integrity while appearing continuous and tactile to visitors. 

Today, the Homeland Gallery feature wall serves as a central visual and interpretive element for the Montana Heritage Center. It enhances the storytelling of Montana’s diverse histories, provides a striking aesthetic experience for museumgoers, and reflects the thoughtful integration of natural stone and innovative building technology. The project also strengthens community access: the museum’s galleries, research library, and event spaces are fully open to the public, creating a welcoming environment for learning, reflection, and engagement. 

The Montana Heritage Center addition demonstrates how careful material selection and design collaboration can create an interior feature that is both architecturally stunning and meaningful to the community, all while preserving the authenticity of natural stone.