--- title: "Enercept is Building Excellence: Stepp Tree House & Prairie Winds U.M. Church" description: "Enercept is Building Excellence: Stepp Tree House & Prairie Winds U.M. Church" image: https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hubfs/Stepp%20Treehouse%20%20construction.jpg --- [![Enercept Structural Insulated Panels](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo%20copy.gif?width=1643&height=903&name=Logo%20copy.gif "Enercept Structural Insulated Panels")](http://www.enercept.com) The Future Of Framing [Content Title](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/enercept-building-excellence-stepp-tree-house-prairie-winds-um-church#) Description < Previous page Next page > Menu [Content Title](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/enercept-building-excellence-stepp-tree-house-prairie-winds-um-church#) Description < Previous page Next page > ### ABOUT ### Applications ### Products ### Resources ### Find Enercept ### Projects ### CONTACT ### Categories Filter Here - [SIPs (124)](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/sips) - [Structural Insulated Panels (71)](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/structural-insulated-panels) - [Energy Efficiency (52)](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/energy-efficiency) - 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[sipshabitathouse (1)](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/sipshabitathouse) ### Recent Posts ![NewTown-31](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hubfs/NewTown-31.jpg) [SIPs Underground; Five Smart Reasons to Use Below-Grade SIPs](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/sips-underground-five-smart-reasons-to-use-below-grade-sips) ![](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/IMG_1570.jpeg) [Do Higher Lumber Prices Make Building With SIPs More Attractive?](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/do-higher-lumber-prices-make-building-with-sips-more-attractive) ![](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Weaver.jpg) [Are SIPs Right for Your Build? Do the Research.](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/are-sips-right-for-you-do-the-research-1) ![Enercept University Class of 2023](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hubfs/2-Mar-22-2023-02-15-13-6741-PM.jpg) [Enercept University 2023: Take Your Building Skills to the Next Level!](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/enercept-university-2023-take-your-building-skills-to-the-next-level) ![contractors-guide-ebook2](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hubfs/E-BOOKS/contractors-guide-ebook2.png) [SIPs vs. Sticks; Contractors' Guide to Using SIPs](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/sips-vs-sticks-contractors-guide-to-using-sips) # Enercept is Building Excellence: Stepp Tree House & Prairie Winds U.M. Church Posted by [Roberta Bartel](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/author/enerceptadmin) on March 12, 2019 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## From Privacy to Fellowship, Building Excellence Comes in All Sizes ...  ![interior wall finish](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/interior%20wall%20finish.jpg?width=960&name=interior%20wall%20finish.jpg) Summer breezes, sounds of nature, privacy, and the tranquil feel of solitude are waiting at the Stepp Tree House.  Located among the trees, northeast of Elk Point, SD ... between Sioux Falls, SD and Sioux City, IA you'll find "The Stepp Tree House", the 1st Runner Up in the 2019 SIPA Building Excellence Awards for Homes under 900 square feet. The 26' x 24' cabin is supported by Post and Beam Construction, and serves as a rustic vacation cabin for owner Carrie Stepp, who is an author and avid nature-lover.  The cabin is located in a draw, in the middle of a wooded country lot. Building with SIPs made the dream cabin easier to build.  Panels were nailed together on the ground and lifted into place with a 56' boom.  By using SIPs builder (Josh Barber), was able to enclose the cabin in just one day.  The strength of the SIPs will improve the structural integrity of the cabin, and will prevent the cabin from twisting and turning over time. The interior walls and custom cabinets were finished with sustainable, beetle-killed blue pine - giving guests a warm natural feel...in concert with the surroundings. The ambiance of the cabin and its location makes it the perfect place for writing, relaxing and collecting your thoughts.     | ![Stepp Treehouse 4-1](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stepp%20Treehouse%204-1.jpg?width=300&name=Stepp%20Treehouse%204-1.jpg) | ![Stepp Treehouse 5](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stepp%20Treehouse%205.jpg?width=1123&name=Stepp%20Treehouse%205.jpg) | ![Stepp Treehouse 6](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stepp%20Treehouse%206.jpg?width=960&name=Stepp%20Treehouse%206.jpg) | | --- | --- | --- | From under 900 square feet to over 10,000 square feet, we bring you the Prairie Winds United Methodist Church located in Dickinson, ND. The Prairie Winds United Methodist Church earned an Honorable Mention in the 2019 SIPA Building Excellence Awards. ![church banner background image](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WEBSITE%20IMAGES/church%20banner%20background%20image.jpg?width=1946&name=church%20banner%20background%20image.jpg) This large church is 21,000 square feet, and provides the congregation with plenty of room for classrooms, office space and combined fellowship/worship area.  The congregation, who had been without a physical church-building since mid 2017, built this church with expansion in mind by building on a large lot and including expansion options in their plans. The foundation of their old church was crumbling and beyond repair forcing the congregation to move, and giving them an urgent need for a new church.  SIPs provided the solution.   ![church construction](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/church%20construction.jpg?width=300&name=church%20construction.jpg)** ![UMC](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/UMC.jpg?width=300&name=UMC.jpg)** > **"It's really wonderful to have our own building.  Everyone's really pleased with the fact that we're all on one level." Pastor Dick Rinearson says, "Now, due to the new structure's ADA-compliant design, members who have mobility issues avoid dealing with stairs, and are able to attend all church activities - throughout the building."** > > ![Church interior](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Church%20interior.jpg?width=2016&name=Church%20interior.jpg) **To learn more about the Prairie Winds United Methodist Church, ** **visit this story from December 2018:** **[![A New Church for Christmas](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3823653/c7814a92-d699-47c6-a4eb-70a598802cba.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3823653/c7814a92-d699-47c6-a4eb-70a598802cba)**   **  **   **Our Mission: Our Commitment ***When you build with Enercept SIPs we provide a building that will go up faster and will be warmer, tighter, stronger, quieter and more cost-effective than conventional construction. It is a commitment that others simply can’t beat!* [![Get more information from Enercept](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3823653/ed6e7a63-4072-47df-b86a-70d6b0f8e85c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3823653/ed6e7a63-4072-47df-b86a-70d6b0f8e85c) Topics: [SIPs](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/sips), [Post & Beam](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/post-beam), [Structural Insulated Panels](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/structural-insulated-panels), [Log & Timber Home](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/log-timber-home) ### you may also like ![Are SIPs Right for Your Build? Do the Research.](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Weaver.jpg) #### [Are SIPs Right for Your Build? 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Early is Best!](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/blower-door-testing-early) ![Frost Ghosting: Thermal Imaging Without Equipment](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hubfs/Thermal%20Bridging.jpg) #### [Frost Ghosting: Thermal Imaging Without Equipment](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/frost-ghosting) ![Enercept University 2024: Take Your Building Skills to the Next Level!](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hubfs/2-Mar-22-2023-02-15-13-6741-PM.jpg) #### [Enercept University 2024: Take Your Building Skills to the Next Level!](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/enercept-university-2024) [![logosmallwebsite](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logosmallwebsite.png?width=113&name=logosmallwebsite.png "logosmallwebsite")](https://www.enercept.com/) ### CONTACT US: 3100 9th Ave SE Watertown, SD 57201 Phone: ([605) 882-2222](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/enercept-building-excellence-stepp-tree-house-prairie-winds-um-church#) Fax: ([605) 882-2753](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/enercept-building-excellence-stepp-tree-house-prairie-winds-um-church#) E-mail: [info@enercept.com](https://3823653.hs-sites.com/blog/enercept-building-excellence-stepp-tree-house-prairie-winds-um-church#) ### ABOUT ### Products ### Applications ### Resources ### Find Enercept ### Projects [Terms & Conditions](http://www.enercept.com/terms-conditions) [Privacy Policy](http://www.enercept.com/privacy-policy) [Site Map](https://www.enercept.com/sitemap) © Copyright 2018 Enercept, Inc. 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