Confluence - Landscape Architecture

06/23/2026

“The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.” —Theodore Roosevelt.

More than 100 years after Roosevelt championed conservation as a national responsibility, his legacy is returning home to the North Dakota Badlands. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library carries his vision forward through its immersive landscape, native prairie restoration, and world-class sustainability goals.

At Confluence, we are honored to help create a place where visitors can experience stewardship not just as a history lesson, but as a living responsibility we all share.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the Badlands on July 4, 2026!

06/22/2026

A great day of learning for our Des Moines interns!

Jenna, Taryn, and Olivia recently traveled to Delano, Minnesota, for a shadow day with Landscape Structures Inc.. During their visit, they heard from industry experts about concept development, design philosophy, and how Landscape Structures brings play experiences to communities worldwide.

The interns also got a behind-the-scenes look at the production process, seeing firsthand how innovative ideas become reality. One highlight of the trip was learning about the creation of Triumph Park in Waukee, Iowa, a project that Landscape Structures and Confluence proudly partnered on together.

Thank you, Landscape Structures, for sharing your expertise and helping us provide a broad, well-rounded internship experience for our team. We appreciate your partnership and support!

06/20/2026

What does it mean for a building to belong to its landscape?

At the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, materials were chosen to express western North Dakota. Its geology, working history, and stewardship ethic.

Confluence helped research and incorporate regional materials, including:
* locally sourced silcrete
* concretions donated by area ranchers
* reclaimed timber mats
* black locust wood repurposed from invasive tree removals

Each material adds meaning to the visitor experience, grounded in place, resourceful by design.

Learn more:

In the North Dakota Badlands, Theodore Roosevelt found a place that changed the course of American conservation. His ranching years in the 1880s began a lifelong connection to the region, forming his understanding of wilderness and stewardship. As president, he made conservation a national responsib...

06/19/2026

From Chicago's historic Jackson Park to the North Dakota Badlands, we've had the unique opportunity to contribute to two presidential library projects opening less than a month apart.

While our roles were very different, both projects share a common thread: the power of landscape to tell stories.

Before construction of the Obama Presidential Center, our team helped document Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance through the Historic American Landscape Survey, preserving a record of these historic landscapes during a transformative moment in their history.

At the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, we served as Landscape Architect of Record, helping bring to life a landscape rooted in restoration, stewardship, and the natural character of the Badlands that inspired Roosevelt's conservation vision.

As these projects open their doors this summer, we're grateful to have played a part in preserving the past and shaping experiences for future generations.

Some opportunities are measured by scale. Others by significance. These are both.

06/17/2026

What happens when landscape architecture students combine design thinking, nature-based planning, and AI?

This summer, we partnered with Colorado State University - Horticulture and Landscape Architecture’s Summer Studio: Design with Nature course, where students explored design opportunities for the iconic Vedauwoo landscape in Wyoming.

Jenn and Daniel spent time with the class teaching AI fundamentals, sharing prompting techniques, and helping identify ways AI could support different stages of the design process, from researching precedents and exploring concepts to developing visual ideas.

On Friday, they returned for final reviews and had the chance to see the students’ completed projects firsthand. The creativity, critical thinking, and thoughtful use of AI were inspiring.

We're grateful to the faculty and students for the opportunity to collaborate and explore how emerging technologies can enhance design education while keeping creativity and human judgment at the center of the process.

Thank you, CSU!

06/16/2026

Restoration starts with the seed. 🌱

One of the most ambitious sustainability efforts at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library isn’t found inside the building. It’s growing across the landscape.

To restore the native prairie, Confluence led a strategy centered on locally adapted seeds collected right from the surrounding Badlands. By partnering with North Dakota State University’s Research Extension Center, local ecologists, and project partners Snøhetta, JLG Architects, and JE Dunn Construction Company, we developed a way to:

✅ Collect seed from the surrounding landscape
✅ Establish nursery plots to grow plugs
✅ Return those native species to the library site

The result is more than a planting plan; it’s a living supply chain rooted in the Badlands that can support future restoration efforts across the entire state.

Stewardship truly begins from the ground up!

Learn more about our Native Plant Project: https://www.thinkconfluence.com/who-we-are/insight/a-living-legacy-in-the-badlands-theodore-roosevelt-presidential-library

06/16/2026

We’re excited to see City Park reopen to the Papillion community tomorrow for Papillion Days! From Wednesday, June 17 through Sunday, June 21, families, friends, and neighbors will once again be able to gather, play, and make memories in this special place.

It’s especially meaningful to know that City Park will remain open to the public, allowing these improvements to be enjoyed for generations to come. We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this project and to help create a space where the Papillion community can continue to build lasting memories for years to come.

06/15/2026

A little more color is coming to downtown Fargo.

We're excited to see this new mural taking shape in Robert's Alley as part of America's 250th celebration. Public art plays an important role in placemaking, bringing character, creativity, and a sense of identity to the spaces where people gather, work, and connect.

We're especially pleased to see this project led by Folkways, a longtime partner that has collaborated with us on several initiatives to strengthen community connections through arts and culture. Their work continues to make our region a more vibrant and welcoming place.

We applaud the artists, organizers, and volunteers who are helping to bring this mural to life and look forward to seeing the finished piece.

06/12/2026

We want to recognize Taryn! Taryn joined us last semester through Waukee Community School District’s School-to-Work (STW) program and has been amazing. She’s learned InDesign and AutoCAD quickly, jumped into real projects, and has become a reliable part of our team. She’s been so great that we asked her to stay on through the summer.

We’re proud to continue partnering with Waukee CSD, and we’re grateful for programs like School-to-Work that connect students with real workplace experience. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4v6M61v and https://bit.ly/4e4mcW9.

06/11/2026

We were excited to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for Mezzo on Walnut this week in downtown Des Moines.

Located within the historic Financial Center, Mezzo is a great example of how underutilized office space can be thoughtfully transformed into much-needed housing while preserving the character of an iconic downtown building.

Confluence served as the landscape architect for the project, designing the rooftop amenity spaces that create opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and community high above the city streets.

Thank you to the project team, partners, and everyone who helped bring this transformation to life. We're proud to have played a role in a project that contributes to the future vibrancy of downtown Des Moines.

Lawmark Capital | Slingshot Architecture | Hansen Company | Bishop Engineering | City of Des Moines - Government | Greater Des Moines Partnership