Oyate Health Center

Wyss Associates is part of a multidisciplinary design build team for a new Health Center in Rapid City, SD. The Health Center is managed by the Oglala and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes providing health services in Rapid City to anyone who is eligible for IHS service. While the center itself supports general health and wellbeing, the surrounding landscape extends the offerings to passive, outdoor gathering spaces. This transitionary space can be used for a range of activities from individual meditation to outdoor classrooms, for small group gatherings and teachings. This all supports the IHS mission to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level.

Various landscape elements contributed to the projects projected LEED Gold rating. Landscape plant material selections were from cultural plants of the indigenous people. It draws inspiration from the Black
Hills indigenous plantings to the west, by establishing a framework of habitat zones including ponderosa pine and aspen groupings, prairie grasses, and meadow gardens. Throughout the site, barrier free
walking paths are incorporated for pedestrian access. Paths for meditation and physical health are an important factor in the owner’s vision for a healthy lifestyle. Benches for resting are included along the paths with trees for shading.