Project: Campus Collaborative
Architecture: Hufft Project
Location: Bentonville, Arkansas
Area: 14,264 sqft
Coompleted 2022
Photo Credits: Hufft
The University of Arkansas Collaborative plays a pivotal role in supporting educators and staff to deliver resources, programming, and professional development opportunities tailored for both online and on-campus students. Moreover, the Collaborative fosters strategic partnerships with industry leaders, businesses, government agencies, and various institutions to broaden learning horizons and facilitate career advancement for individuals. The establishment of the new Bentonville campus signifies a significant expansion of the University’s influence and physical presence in the region, enabling greater engagement with the local community and fostering impactful collaborations.
Upon completion, the Bentonville Campus Collaborative will encompass four distinct spaces, each meticulously programmed to serve specific core functions for students, faculty, and community partners. Recognizing the importance of adaptability, the University has prioritized flexibility in the design of each space to accommodate evolving needs over time.
Addressing the challenge of establishing a cohesive design language across multiple spaces, the concept revolves around a versatile kit of parts. This kit primarily comprises mobile walls and storage features that serve both functional and aesthetic purposes, ensuring consistency and coherence across zones. Utilizing rolling walls, storage units, and private booths, the design facilitates seamless transformation between smaller and larger spaces, allowing for diverse environments to coexist within a singular area. This innovative approach not only enhances flexibility but also promotes efficient utilization of space, ultimately enriching the collaborative experience for all stakeholders involved.
Learning Lab
The Learning Lab is the primary workspace for students and University staff. The core of the Learning Lab is the combined lounge and collaboration zone that is large enough to host events and conferences. A conference room, video and podcast studio, private huddle space, flexible classroom and data lab form the rest of the main level. The second floor is the main hub for faculty and staff, with private offices and an additional open work area.
Incubator
The Incubator is a collaboration and community zone. The tall, light-filled space easily flexes from focused work, to marketing workshops, community presentations and events. White boards and TVs are fixed to walls made of prefinished maple plywood, attached to raw steel frames with casters, all fabricated by our shop. These walls, along with rolling shelves and lockers, act as movable partitions. The second level is an open work area that can serve focused collaboration, or as an additional workspace during larger meetings and events on the main level.
