Daugaard Dining Hall opens at Children’s Home Society 

This paid piece is sponsored by Children’s Home Society.

Cultures the world over believe that sitting down together to share a meal is a mark of hospitality — and the foundation for friendship.

That’s one reason Children’s Home Society of South Dakota made it a priority to build a new dining hall on its Sioux Falls campus.

On Oct. 10, CHS staff, board members, friends and the media gathered to celebrate the opening and dedication of the new Daugaard Dining Hall.

The event included a Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting. Koch Hazard Architects designed the Daugaard Dining Hall, and Lloyd Construction was the builder.

Construction began in 2023 and concluded in August. The 10,280-square-foot facility features a modern commercial kitchen, noise-control reduction, deck seating area, private spaces for families who come to visit, an abundance of natural light and seating for 125. These amenities will allow CHS staff to prepare meals efficiently and better serve the daily needs of the kids and their families.

Architect Stacey McMahan of Koch Hazard shared the trauma-informed approach to designing the building.

“Focuses for the new facility are natural light and a connection to nature with large windows overlooking the pond. Integrated acoustic controls help provide a calming atmosphere for positive interaction, like family time around a table.”

Other strategies like color cues “help children and staff more simply navigate entry, serving lines and side trips to the bathroom, water fountain or quiet room,” McMahan continued. “The idea is to make the space intuitive and relaxed to counteract feelings of anxiety and fear.”

At the event, CHS president and CEO Michelle Lavallee discussed the importance of the dining hall.

“For so many of us, the dinner table is where family gathers to find comfort, fellowship and joy. While I am always excited to enjoy the meal on the table, I am far more fulfilled by the people surrounding that table,” she said.

“When we break bread together, worries go away, personal connections are fortified, and our minds, bodies and souls are nourished,” she continued.

“The Daugaard Dining Hall is also the place where our Children Home Society family will shape memories, solidify our love for one another and share stories for decades to come.”

Named for Daugaard family

The building was named to honor former South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard and his wife, Linda, both of whom made a tremendous impact on CHS over the years. Dennis served as executive director for seven years, development director for 12 years and a board member for five years. Linda also served on the board for six years.

“Dennis played a profound role in shaping Children’s Home Society into the wonderful organization that it is today,” Lavallee said.

Daugaard was a bank executive when he joined the CHS board. “At first, I thought child abuse and neglect was something you see on TV in big cities like New York or Chicago,” he said. “When I started hearing some of the stories of the kids here, I was just astounded, aghast.”

At the event, he reflected on a moment when he had one of the kiddos, a little boy named Jack, help him record a thank-you message to send to a donor. He asked Jack a few questions such as “What are you learning in school? Who’s your teacher? What’s your favorite part of CHS?”

Then, Daugaard asked Jack what he wanted to be when he grew up. Jack said, “I just want to be happy.”

“You hear some of the things the kids say and what happened to them, and it just tears you up,” Daugaard said. “I just don’t think anyone can listen to some of those stories and not be captured by the idea of helping those kids overcome things that were really not their fault.”

Interactions such as these shaped Daugaard’s approach to leadership not only for CHS but also for the state of South Dakota.

The extended Daugaard family attended the event. They remain involved with CHS and each year volunteer as a group at the annual gift wrap booth in The Empire Mall that benefits Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety.

CHS board chair Jack Marsh talked about why the dining hall was named for the Daugaards.

“They strive to be just, fair, to do what’s right, decent and honorable,” Marsh said. “They are kind and empathetic and concerned for others. And they do so with humility.”

“Their values are consistent with the values at Children’s Home Society,” he continued. “After all, Dennis and Linda, through their long and distinguished past service, helped instill these fundamental principles: To act justly and with integrity. To be kind. To be humble.”

“We are grateful to Dennis and to Linda for modeling for us — and especially to the children in our care — how to live and act, and how to treat one another. May the family name affixed to this building be an inspiration and a reminder to all that the Daugaards stand for good.”

Join the Fold community art project

The new Daugaard Dining Hall also features a colorful wave of more than 2,800 folded paper swans and cranes collected through the Join the Fold campaign. The origami birds have been gathered from business groups, schools, churches, families and individuals across the state.

CHS is continuing to collect origami swans and cranes for similar community art project installations at Children’s Home Society Shelter for Family Safety and the new Children’s Home Society of South Dakota Rapid City campus.

To learn about the project and participate, visit chssd.org/JointheFold.