Design in the Hills

Design in the Hills is unique in the design world: Although there are sponsors and continuing education credits, very little of the education is provided in a traditional classroom setting. The conference is interactive and mobile. Design in the Hills is a unique gathering of architects, landscape architects, interior designers, engineers and artists from across the state, along with members of the community who all connect to celebrate and elevate the standard of design.

Each year, AIA South Dakota focuses on projects and places of interest in Black Hills communities.

Design in the Hills attendance is limited and open only to design professionals. Individuals seeking to represent their firms in a business development capacity should reach out to events@aiasouthdakota.org to get on the sponsorship wait list.

Registration is closed.

EVENT OVERVIEW

7:15 a.m.	Registration and coffee.
7:30 a.m.	Bus departs Rapid City.
	Crazy Horse Memorial: Cultural Education Through History, Art, and Public Interaction (1.5 LU/HSW) — Participants on this tour will get a highly curated experience to learn about the incredible history of the site and its many buildings at this project outside Custer, S.D., deep in the Black Hills.
	Crazy Horse Memorial: Engineering Solutions to Protect Worker Safety at the World’s Largest Mountain Sculpture (1.5 LU/HSW) — This tour of the Mountain Shop at Crazy Horse Memorial will give participants an insider’s understanding of the engineering and modified-mining techniques utilized to carve the likeness of Oglala Lakota Chief Crazy Horse from a granite mountain in the Black Hills outside Custer.
	Lunch and Learn: Single-Ply Roofing Systems, presented by Shermach Sales (1 LU/HSW) — These product demonstrations highlight installation best practices as well as advancements in single-ply EPDM, TPO, PVC, and KEE HP membranes and roofing systems.
	Custer State Park Visitor Center Tour (1 LU/HSW) — Custer State Park Visitor’s Center is an example of a complex project that ultimately resolved with more and more simplicity. Put another way by lead architect Donovan Broberg, AIA: “Beauty grows out of simplicity.” For this course, he will lead colleagues on a tour of the finished facility,
	Happy Hour and Sponsor Showcase.
6 p.m.	Bus departs Custer State Park for Rapid City.

PHOTO/VIDEO RELEASE: Photos and videos may be recorded at this event. By attending Design in the Hills, you may be included in these photos and videos. Your attendance at this event grants AIA South Dakota permission to use these photos or videos for promotional, educational, or archival purposes.

Registrations are non-transferable. Refunds will be provided for requests made in writing to events@aiasouthdakota.org prior to Wednesday, June 24, 2026. No refunds will be granted after June 24, 2026.