Pokagon Court & Peacemaking Center - 7gen

Pokagon Court & Peacemaking Center

Sectors

Indigenous

Locations

Dowagiac, Michigan

Services

Architecture, Interior Design, Civil Engineering, Structural, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Plumbing

Providing a culturally-reflective space for Native Justice and Peacemaking.

Seven Generations Architecture & Engineering was commissioned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi to design a cutting-edge Tribal court and peacemaking space to serve the Pokagon Band Tribal members. Native justice is focused on the healing of the individual as well as the healing of the community as a whole. This initiative within the Pokagon Community aims to restore the spirit and ideals of Native justice in a contemporary setting.

Native justice is an alternative route to justice with a less adversarial approach. The new justice center was unveiled in December 2019 and gives Native justice center staff the proper spaces to participate in peacemaking efforts through the use of a circular court and informal peacemaking round room. The peacemaking room has an indoor fire pit complete with a copper hood as the main focal point. Both of these spaces incorporate cultural elements of Native justice throughout.

The crew on the project.

Scott Winchester, AIA

Senior Project Manager | Tribal Liaison

Jim Keefer, LEED AP

Project Coordinator

Steve VandenBussche, AIA, LEED AP

Architectural Designer

Jeremy Berg, AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP BD+C

Project Executive

Stephanie Sokolowski, NCIDQ, IIDA, LEED Green Assoc.

Interior Designer

Jordan Strong

Project Technician

Veronika Gaska

Designer

Rick Slone

QAQC and Construction Detailing Manager