High Plains Architects

02/28/2026

09/23/2025

This past Saturday, our president Ed Gulick co-organized and co-led the Great Downtown Bike Roll with Kristi Drake of Billings TrailNet. The event educated 75-100 residents of all ages on how to use the new two-way protected bikeways in downtown Billings. We’re proud to support initiatives that make our city safer and more bike-friendly!

📷: Zak Jokela

Downtown Billings Billings TrailNet

09/18/2025

We’re excited to celebrate John Sanford's major career milestone of becoming a licensed architect!

Since joining High Plains Architects in 2021, John has led and supported a range of feasibility studies, master planning efforts, and residential designs across rural Montana. With a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design from Montana State University, John applies a human-centered mindset to every project. From downtown master planning for communities like Ekalaka and Havre to residential design for rural Montana, he strives to create spaces that honor heritage, foster connections, and enable long-term resilience.

We’re proud to celebrate this accomplishment and look forward to John’s continued growth as a leader in the profession.

07/31/2025

We are honored to see our work on the Borden’s Hotel in Whitehall, MT highlighted by the State Historic Preservation Office. This project is a prime example of how Historic Tax Credits (HTCs) can be leveraged to transform a long-vacant building into a thriving mixed-use development, boosting both community vitality and economic growth.

Our team has extensive expertise in the design and ex*****on of HTC projects, guiding clients through every step of the process—from application to rehabilitation. If you’re considering a project with historic potential, we are here to help you maximize its value and bring it back to life.

The identity of a community is inextricably linked to the historic buildings where people live, play, and work. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) helps communities unlock the potential of historic places through programs like Historic Tax Credits (HTC).

Historic Tax Credits help capitalize substantial building rehabilitation projects that can boost property values, attract new businesses, and enlarge the tax base. SHPO facilitates federal and state historic preservation tax credit applications for income-producing properties listed in the National Register. Staff specializing in historic architecture also provide advice on historic building rehabilitation and maintenance.
Learn more about HTCs: https://loom.ly/vkbEo2Q

Pictured here: Borden’s Hotel in Whitehall used HTCs to capitalize the rehabilitation of a previously unoccupied building into viable commercial and residential spaces.

07/10/2025

We were honored to receive the Outstanding Historic Preservation Stewardship Award for our work on the One Health Lewistown project, recognized at the 2025 Montana Historic Preservation Awards hosted by the Montana Historical Society.

The award was presented by Lieutenant Governor Kirsten Juras on May 16 at the Myrna Loy Center in Helena. We share this recognition with our incredible partners—Kent Doughty of One Health and Heather McMilin of Homeword—whose vision and dedication made this project possible.

Big thanks to our exceptional project team Jackson Contractor Group, IMEG, Robert Peccia & Associates, and Interstate Engineering.

Read more about the design: https://www.highplainsarchitects.com/portfolio/one-health-lewistown

📸: Nathan Satran - Photographer

06/16/2025

Congratulations to Emarie Skelton, AIA, on two outstanding accomplishments: celebrating 10 years with High Plains Architects and becoming a licensed architect!

Emarie is a thoughtful collaborator whose work spans historic preservation, adaptive reuse, custom homes, and commercial spaces. Since joining High Plains in 2015, she has contributed to some of our most impactful projects, bringing clarity, precision, and care to each phase of the process.

A strong advocate for community-centered, sustainable design, Emarie exemplifies the values that shape our practice. Her licensure marks an exciting new chapter, and we’re proud to celebrate her contributions and continued growth at our firm and in the profession.

04/25/2025

The Urban Frontier House in Billings, Montana, is a forward-thinking prototype that reimagines residential design. With no traditional mechanical heating or cooling system, no gas connection, and no reliance on city water or sewer infrastructure, the home is designed to be low-maintenance, energy-positive, and self-sustaining.

Located on a former greyfield site just seven blocks from downtown, the project demonstrates how high-performance design can be integrated into compact urban settings.

Visit the High Plains Architects website to learn more about the systems, goals, and vision behind the Urban Frontier House.

A home in downtown Billings is almost completely off the grid, and the owners gave a tour in conjunction with Earth Day.

12/23/2024

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on an incredible year of collaboration with our clients, partners, and community. Together, we’ve continued to design spaces that honor the beauty and uniqueness of our Montana home.

At High Plains Architects, we’re proud to create architecture that enhances a sense of place while embracing sustainability, innovation, and the heritage of this region. We’re deeply grateful to work with so many who share our vision for thoughtful, high-performance buildings that inspire and endure.

From all of us at High Plains Architects, we wish you a happy holiday season filled with warmth, love, and joy. Here’s to building an even brighter future together in 2025!

12/12/2024

High Plains Architects' founder, Randy Hafer, shares his perspective in the Daily Montanan's latest article addressing Montana’s affordable housing crunch. As an advocate for sustainable, community-focused design, Randy highlights how thoughtful architecture and adaptive reuse of existing spaces can be powerful tools for creating affordable housing solutions.

Montana doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel—smart, sustainable solutions already exist. From revitalizing historic buildings to designing for energy efficiency, these strategies not only address affordability but also strengthen communities.

Read the full article to learn more about innovative approaches making a difference in Montana: https://dailymontanan.com/2024/12/10/solutions-already-exist-in-montana-to-help-ease-affordable-housing-crunch/

Let’s build a future where housing is accessible, sustainable, and reflective of Montana’s unique character.

While Montana has a lot of catch-up to do to make housing more affordable, leaders say it already has some of the tools in place.

11/25/2024

Check out the stunning exterior transformation of the Highway Three Remodel!

This redesign features a crow’s nest, offering elevated views of the surrounding landscape, and a covered bridgeway that seamlessly connects the house to the new garage loft addition.

Stay tuned as we reveal the interior transformation next!

A special thanks to Newell Construction for bringing our vision to life with exceptional craftsmanship.

11/08/2024

We are excited to announce Virginia Duke as our new Director of Business Operations! Bringing a wealth of experience in project management, systems improvement, and knowledge management, Virginia is passionate about designing impactful, human-centered solutions for our business operations and real estate development projects.

Known for her empathetic approach, proactive mindset, and attention to detail, Virginia thrives on tackling big challenges and transforming complex problems into clear, accessible strategies. Her ability to build relationships and influence effectively will play a vital role in enhancing our internal systems and client experience.

Please join us in giving Virginia a warm welcome to the High Plains Architects team!

11/01/2024

🌟 Luncheon Keynote Speaker Announcement! 🌟

Join us in welcoming Randy Hafer, cofounder of High Plains Architects, as our Luncheon Keynote on November 19th! With a career built on sustainability, urban revitalization, and historic preservation, Randy’s work is reshaping Montana’s architectural landscape. Don’t miss his insights on making sustainable building a reality in Montana!

Since founding the High Plains Architects in 1999, Randy has led impactful projects, including Montana’s first Living Building Challenge-certified project, and has received numerous awards for his work, including the Montana Better Bricks Award and Billings Chamber’s Civic Leadership Excellence Award. Randy’s Urban Frontier House—a groundbreaking off-the-grid home—reflects his deep commitment to green building, which he advocates for across Montana and beyond. His work continues to transform historic structures and bring sustainable development to communities statewide.

Register today and join the discussion: https://tinyurl.com/y4m3h224