School of Art Announces Selection of Architecture Teams

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees has approved the hiring of the architecture firms HGA, based in Minneapolis, and MAHG Architecture of Fort Smith to work with the U of A’s School of Art to develop the Windgate Art and Design District in the heart of south Fayetteville.

Both architecture firms have worked with the University of Arkansas on present and past projects. HGA led the award-winning renovation of the historic fieldhouse into the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center on the Fayetteville campus. MAHG Architecture has worked on local projects including the Bud Walton Arena and the Basketball Performance Center, as well as on the Walton Arts Center.

In 2017, the School of Art, part of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, received a $40 million gift from the Windgate Charitable Foundation to create the new art and design district that will serve students, faculty, artists, designers and the community.

The district will be developed close to campus on Martin Luther King Boulevard between Hill and Government avenues, and is an expansion near the school’s sculpture complex. The district will feature several new buildings for art and design classrooms, labs, studios and public gallery space.

“The presentation given by HGA and MAHG Architecture mirrors the School of Art’s approach to this visionary project,” said Jeannie Hulen, associate dean of fine arts for Fulbright College and former chair of the department of art.

In recommending the two firms, Hulen and hiring committee members said that  the architectural teams are dedicated to discovering the needs of the school and community to customize the design, a critical first step to create a successful art and design educational district.

HGA and MAHG Architecture presented their priorities for creating a district that is a hub for the arts, integrated into the community, environmentally conscious and inspired by the rich U of A history.

“The space programming and planning for the Windgate Arts and Design District will be informed by a deep understanding of each of the unique arts disciplines, their methods, materials, and resulting art forms,” said Jamie Milne Rojek, HGA vice president. “From the quality of light, to the physical requirements of equipment, the facility will be a functional, safe, studio environment and showcase for the arts.”

Representatives from HGA and MAHG Architecture said they recognize the extraordinary lasting impact the Windgate Art and Design District will have locally, statewide and on a national scale.

“We are tremendously excited about this project, and believe that our team’s experience, expertise and collaborative approach will enable us to support the university’s vision of a vibrant art and design district,” said Nancy Blankfard, HGA design principal. “We anticipate the initial design ideas to be developed by the end of fall 2018.”

Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in fall 2019. Clark Construction has been approved as the construction manager for this project.

HGA, MAHG Architecture, Clark Construction and the U of A are partnering in a workshop to establish goals and communication objectives for the project. Through the coming months, the design team will meet with School of Art faculty and staff to verify space requirements, functional needs and study design opportunities specific to the site.

For more information about the Windgate Art and Design District or the School of Art, please visit art.uark.edu.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.