Project 10

Native American Cultural Rehabilitation Center
Sugarhouse, Utah

The Native American Cultural Rehabilitation Center is a restorative housing and cultural development situated in Sugarhouse, Utah. Rooted in respect for the land and its original stewards, this project honors the local Native American communities—particularly those historically tied to oil harvesting in the region—by celebrating their living culture through art, education, and shared opportunity.

The center integrates a free housing and mentorship program designed specifically for Native American individuals seeking pathways into museum curation, entrepreneurship, restaurant management, and faculty-based leadership roles. By embedding these resources into the architectural and operational core of the project, the center provides both security and the tools for self-determined growth.

Architecturally, the complex is anchored by a striking Sun Dial Atrium, whose sculptural presence pays homage to Indigenous relationships with the sun, time, and natural cycles. As sunlight shifts throughout the day, the atrium casts a wide, moving shadow across the street—symbolizing both a literal and metaphorical net that gathers the public into the center's orbit.

Designed with indoor and outdoor communal gathering in mind, the project includes performance spaces, maker studios, and flexible courtyards intended for storytelling, ceremony, and everyday connection. This is not just a building—it is a living monument to cultural resilience, education, and empowerment.