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Butte, Montana
Silver Bow Readiness Center
Built for rapid response, community connection, and sustainability
Montana’s Army National Guard needed the Silver Bow Readiness Center to adapt to evolving mission requirements, from domestic emergency response to full mobilization. Located in the Montana Connections Business Park outside Butte, the new 50,000 sq. ft. Silver Bow Readiness Center replaces aging facilities in Anaconda and Butte with a centralized, secure, and future-focused hub. The new site was chosen for its strategic proximity to rail line and interstate access, enabling quicker deployment and enhanced coordination across the state.
Morrison-Maierle provided comprehensive engineering services to help bring this facility to life. From flexible infrastructure to strategies tailored for sustainability with variable occupancy, our team designed a building that supports day-to-day training while remaining ready for a large-scale response at a moment’s notice.
Client
Mosaic Architecture
Location
Butte, Montana
Size
50,000 sq. ft.
Project Snapshot
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Integrated multi-use readiness center engineering: Morrison-Maierle coordinated structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and information and communication technology (ICT) systems for the Silver Bow Readiness Center in Butte, Montana, creating one adaptable facility for daily staff operations, Montana Army National Guard training, community functions, emergency response, and potential military mobilizations.
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Structural engineering for security, resilience, and flexibility: A coordinated system of wood, structural steel, concrete masonry, and reinforced concrete supports long-span assembly and circulation spaces, durable service areas, secure rooms, and hardened spaces while meeting seismic, anti-terrorism, force-protection, and federal military requirements.
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Mechanical systems that respond to changing occupancy: Zoned building controls allow lightly used areas to reduce heating, cooling, ventilation, and equipment operation during normal weekdays, then rapidly return the facility to full capacity for drill weekends, extended training, emergency activation, or mobilization involving hundreds of personnel.
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Energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and plumbing: Displacement ventilation, concealed air distribution, radiant floor heating, a transpired solar wall, and separate domestic hot water strategies for daily office use and peak shower, locker room, and kitchen demand improve comfort, reduce energy use, and support LEED Silver performance.
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Electrical and fire protection systems for reliable mission readiness: Photovoltaic generation, efficient electrical infrastructure, life-safety systems, and a mass notification system integrated with HVAC shutdown protocols help protect occupants, maintain essential facility functions, and support rapid response during routine operations and mission-critical events.
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Secure ICT and whole-building coordination: Morrison-Maierle designed secure communications infrastructure, controlled pathways, a federally compliant communications room and vault, and coordinated penetrations, utilities, dampers, and sealed-envelope requirements so the readiness center can remain connected, secure, maintainable, and operational across public, training, emergency, and military uses.
The design team integrated the facility into the landscape, drawing inspiration from Butte's mining history.
The facility was built to maintain the Montana National Guard fleet while also serving as a teaching space for extensive training on military equipment.
The project's purpose is to maximize day-to-day training, while being ready for a large-scale response at a moment's notice.
Built for Any Mission, Any Time
The Butte Readiness Center is, first and foremost, a highly adaptable facility. Built to support Montana National Guard operations ranging from weekend drills to disaster response, the building accommodates a wide range of uses while maintaining the infrastructure needed for secure storage, coordinated training, and community engagement.
The building houses diverse spaces for a variety of uses:
- Administrative offices and education areas support full-time staff and weekend training cycles.
- A commercial-grade kitchen, locker rooms, and assembly hall offer essential support for extended operations or community events.
- Secure armories and communication rooms are built to mission-specific military standards, with blast protection, airtight sealing, and reinforced concrete.
- The building’s location near a planned rail spur and its direct access to I-15 enable rapid deployment when minutes matter.
By supporting both civil and military readiness, the facility strengthens Montana’s emergency infrastructure while providing a professional and appealing environment for National Guard members.
Energy Efficiency for Variable Occupancy
Designing a large building that frequently sits unoccupied presented an engineering challenge, one Morrison-Maierle tackled head-on with creative, cost-effective energy strategies. We collaborated closely with the client and architect to understand occupancy patterns and engineer systems that scaled up or down accordingly.
Key energy-saving solutions include:
- Aggressive HVAC setbacks that reduce heating and cooling demand during low-occupancy periods.
- On-demand natural gas water heaters that eliminate the need for continuous hot water storage.
- A load-shedding backup power system that prioritizes essential services and avoids oversizing the generator.
- In-floor radiant heating and extensive natural daylighting improve comfort without sacrificing efficiency.
These strategies helped the facility achieve LEED Silver certification while minimizing long-term operational costs.
Natural building materials bring warmth to the space.
Natural light enhances this learning, adaptable training/workspace.
The robust mechanical room houses the life system of the building, from HVAC to ICT.
Secure, Resilient, and Always Operational
As a critical facility for state and national defense, the Readiness Center needed to remain operational even under the most extreme conditions. From security-focused structural design to high-tech emergency systems, the building is equipped to serve as a command center during natural disasters or defense scenarios.
Design elements that enhance resilience include:
- A mass notification system integrated with HVAC shutdown protocols to ensure quick response during emergencies.
- Blast-resistant setbacks and a sealed envelope that protect against chemical or physical threats.
- A secure communications room and vault built to meet strict federal requirements for security and redundancy.
- Custom controls and damper systems that allow the building to be fully sealed off in the event of airborne hazards.
Morrison-Maierle’s cross-disciplinary collaboration ensured that these features were not just compliant, but seamlessly integrated—maintaining the building’s sleek, modern feel while meeting every operational requirement.
Meet the Team
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