Files
Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Architecture
College
Arts and Sciences
Department
Architecture
Faculty Advisor
Charlott Greub
Studio Coordinator
Stephen Wischer
Faculty Chair
Susan Kliman
Publisher
North Dakota State University
Rights
NDSU policy 190.6.2
URI
https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf
Abstract
This thesis explores how the adaptive reuse of wooden grain elevators can preserve living heritage, sustain cultural identity, and anchor downtowns in small towns facing rapid suburban expansion. Centered on Horace, North Dakota, the study positions grain elevators as evolving typologies that respond to contemporary community needs while maintaining symbolic and material ties to the agrarian landscape. Through design research, site analysis, and comparative case studies, it develops strategies that integrate preservation, sustainability, and public engagement. Findings demonstrate that reimagined grain elevators can serve as multi-use civic anchors, fostering social cohesion, economic activity, and a sense of place amid dispersed suburban development. By reframing preservation as community-making rather than historical maintenance, this thesis provides a framework for integrating industrial heritage and living traditions into contemporary small-town growth.
Recommended Citation
Erickstad, Gracie Mae, "Re:Grain: Elevating Community Through the Adaptive Reuse of Grain Structures as a Catalyst for Downtown Development and Cultural Identity in Horace, North Dakota" (2026). Architecture Theses. 60.
https://digitalcommons.ndsu.edu/architecture-theses/60