The Montana Department of Labor & Industry’s new state-owned facility in Helena houses programs that help ensure fair commerce and safe construction practices across the state. The 5,500-square-foot facility supports both the Weights & Measures program and the Building Codes program.

The facility is highly specialized to accommodate large vehicles and equipment used to certify scales, pumps, and meters. The site planning process prioritized secure, gated vehicle storage and efficient pull-through circulation. The facility is organized into three primary zones: a maintenance bay for servicing trucks; an office and laboratory area with a public lobby, conference room, and small mass certification lab; and a large mass calibration space equipped with an overhead crane and specialized carts capable of accessing cattle and truck scales directly. Designed for operational efficiency and future expansion, the facility provides a durable, purpose-built home for the department’s critical work.

As the Cushing Terrell design team was tasked with delivering a complete construction document package on an accelerated eight-week schedule. Close collaboration and constant communication were critical to the project’s success. Cushing Terrell worked closely with Dick Anderson Construction throughout the process, integrating real-time feedback on cost and constructability to support informed design decisions.

Cushing Terrell provided a full suite of design services for the project, including: an initial land survey, architecture, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, plumbing design, landscape architecture, and interior design for the workspaces.

For the interior design, the team took inspiration from the nearby Sleeping Giant Mountain, visible behind the facility. Natural colors (browns, greys, greens, and blues) and materials (wood and stone) found in the countryside were worked into the finishing palette of fixtures, furniture, wall coverings, tiles, and more.

“As our economy grows stronger, the programs housed in this facility are on the front lines of making sure that growth happens safely and fairly,” Montana Governor Greg Gianforte said during the facility’s ribbon cutting. “By giving these programs a permanent home, we're reducing long-term costs and avoiding future relocation expenses while supporting this important work.”

Cushing Terrell Team
Principal in Charge: Josh Hersel
Project Manager: Josh Shiverick
Project Architect: Nick Van Antwerp
Architectural: Juliana Nelson
Interior Design: Beth Schaper
Structural Engineering: Trent McAteer
Electrical Engineering: David Sodini
Mechanical Engineering: Zoe Smith
Civil Engineering: Adam Schlegel
Landscape Architecture: Wes Marquis
Land Surveying: Evan Vernon

Project Team
Architecture and Interior Design: Cushing Terell
Civil Engineering: Cushing Terell
Electrical Engineering: Cushing Terell
Landscape Architecture: Cushing Terell
Mechanical Engineering: Cushing Terell
Structural Engineering: Cushing Terell
Contractor: Dick Anderson Construction

Photography
Charles Stemen