Study Architecture 
ProPEL 
Author(s): Andrea Alberto Dutto
An inventory of U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service architecture, conducted in the late 1990s, reveals a diverse array of predominantly wooden structures designed to serve and monitor areas designated as National Forests. The defining characteristic of these structures, particularly those located in the most remote regions of the forest system, such as lookout towers for fire spotting, lies in their dialectical relationship between standardization and customization. While originally conceived according to strict functional criteria, these buildings became the focus of ongoing repair and maintenance efforts carried out by the on-site staff, often with limited resources and in challenging conditions exacerbated by rugged terrain and wildlife presence. These structures began to decline in the 1960s, when the introduction of automated surveillance systems led to a policy of reducing personnel and abandoning many sites. The concern that this architectural heritage might disappear has prompted various volunteer groups to dedicate themselves to its preservation and to promoting a culture of maintenance. This paper presents the results of a collaborative project between students and volunteers, conducted within the framework of a design studio focused on several National Forests in Idaho and Montana. The students analyzed and cataloged some of the most representative examples of USDA Forest Service architecture, aided by volunteers who provided access to firsthand accounts and archival materials. Following a four-phase methodology—inventory, investigation, improvement, and innovation—the students developed an in-depth understanding of these structures. This understanding informed their proposals for repair and enhancement, as well as new designs aimed at preserving the legacy of USDA Forest Service architecture.
https://doi.org/10.35483/ACSA.AM.113.16
Volume Editors
Sara Jensen Carr & Rubén García Rubio
ISBN
978-1-944214-48-7
