Truly advocating for the health of their staff, patients and patients’ families, leaders of Avera Cancer Institute – Prairie Center requested a sustainable facility free of carcinogenic toxins. To this end, Prairie Center has set new benchmarks. Indoor air-quality measures include air exposure to UV light to kill airborne bacteria, as well as 7,500 sq. ft. of indoor plants, trees, grasses, ponds and waterfalls to balance humidity and air quality. Building materials included VOC-free paints, adhesives and fabrics.

The center features regionally quarried stone, design elements that evoke prairie grass and a sweeping, curved-glass facade that elicits the expansive South Dakota horizon. Indoor gardens with native plantings, waterfalls and indoor and outdoor water features capture a distinct South Dakota character. Elements on the exterior of the meditation room resemble the needles of the Black Hills, while rock from the Crazy Horse Memorial graces the west entry waterfall and outdoor meditation labyrinth; the center is only the second off-site location to receive the stones.