PRAIRIE WIND ARCHITECTURE, P.C.

COMPANY PROFILE

Jeff Shelden, A.I.A.

History and Philosophy
Prairie Wind Architecture was founded in 1981 in order to utilize my gifts in worthwhile and creative manner, providing architectural services for small scale projects of a specialized nature. Particular areas of experience include energy efficient design, architectural program development, site analysis, interiors, landscape design, housing, office and commercial facilities, renovation and historic preservation.

Additions, renovations and remodels constitute an increasingly large percentage of our work. Recent notable projects include the Office Conversion of the old Fergus County Jail; the Addition/Renovation of the Lewistown Library, and the Addition/Renovation of St. Margaret Catholic Church in Cut Bank, which recently won a Merit Award for Excellence from the Montana Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Historic preservation is also a significant share of the firm's workload. Recent projects undertaken for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks represent preservation activities in their purest form, and include Chief Plenty Coup's cabin in Pryor, Fraternity and Gillian Halls in Elkhorn, the Kobold Ranch House at the Rosebud Battlefield, and the first territorial capitol at Bannack. These projects included thorough identification and analysis of the condition of these structures, presented in a report following the Department of Interior's format for Historic Structures. Construction on all these sites is either complete or nearing completion, except at Bannack, where the work is just beginning. Other recent or current preservation projects include the restoration of the Malta Headquarters Office for the Bureau of Reclamation; restoration of the Fort Peck Hotel; the Old Fergus County Jail Office conversion; the Lewistown Library Addition/Renovation, and the Big Spring Hatchery.

Staff and Facility
Jeff Shelden is a registered architect licensed in Wyoming and Montana. The office is fully equipped to provide automated design using the current version of AutoCAD. Utilizing this equipment and extensive experience, Prairie Wind Architecture strives to provide highly accurate, biddable documents as a means of insuring the quality of the construction and controlling costs. Prairie Wind Architecture utilizes fully computerized and compatible contract drafting services to access additional production capacity as necessary.

Project and Cost Estimating History
Prairie Wind Architecture has undertaken a variety of projects ranging from kitchen and bathroom remodels at a few thousand dollars to a fifty unit housing development totalling over two and one-half million dollars. Our average project size ranges between three hundred thousand to one million dollars in construction value. Coupled with these projects is a project management style that does not allow the work to languish in reviews or otherwise drag out. We are acutely aware of the benefits of working within Montana's normal construction seasons for the benefit of the quality of the construction.

Our cost estimating history is also good, and we use a variety of techniques to factor in not only material and labor, but the subjective elements that often make bids vary so much. We are particularly satisfied with our estimating record on historic preservation projects. We have achieved good accuracy in an area where remoteness, the hidden nature of the work, and the idiosyncratic character of the buildings makes estimating difficult.

Specialized Expertise
Because of the wide ranging nature and scale of our work, we are ideally suited to handle projects that require the synthesis of a variety of disciplines, from architecture to engineering to environmental design. We work hard to be communicative and responsive with all our clients for the benefit of the project. Our record is one of practical buildings complementary to their site.

Prairie Wind Architecture Can:
* Provide work that is technically correct.

* Provide work that is historically accurate.

* Provide work that is thoroughly documented.

* Coordinate the work of a wide variety of consultants, selecting those most qualified to serve the specific needs of the client.

* Provide design expertise on a par with the best work available in the State.

* Complete the work in a timely manner.

Education: Bachelor of Architecture, University of Idaho, 1978

Licensed: Montana, #1279; Wyoming, B113

 

 

 

Jeff Shelden, AIA
Lewistown, Montana
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