The Dickinson Public Safety Center in North Dakota features a fortress-like design that is inspired by the indigenous architecture of the region. The center, which houses Dickinson's police and firefighting departments, features a massive ochre wall with slats that look like embrasures and sections that act as doors cut into the entirety of the structure.
Despite its militaristic appearance, the Dickinson Public Safety Center is inspired by the local Native American history. The Mandan villages in the area that were built on a slant, with water above them, were protected by tall rounded fences. The arcing shape of the Dickinson Public Safety Center's wall is a nod to that design quirk. Further, Dickinson's town nickname is "The Western Edge," and the wall hopes to evoke this edge concept.
What's Driving This Trend
- Fortress-like Design
- Industries can explore using fortress-like designs, inspired by indigenous architecture, to create a unique and secure atmosphere.
- Incorporating Local History
- Incorporating local history into designs can provide a sense of community and cultural identity.
- Evoking Regional Themes
- Designing structures to evoke regional themes can help provide a unique character and identity for a location or business.
Who This Affects Most
- Public Safety
- Public Safety departments can use fortress-like designs to create secure and safe environments for their personnel and the public they serve.
- Architecture
- Architects and designers can incorporate a region's history and themes to create unique, culturally significant structures.
- Tourism
- Using regional themes and history can attract tourists to a location and help create a memorable experience for visitors.
