Not many people know that Northwest Arkansas is home to a highly-regarded architectural design community. In fact, I’d argue that the NWA area houses some of the most well-designed buildings in America today. Ground-breaking in the way they push architectural design, some of them have justly been recognized for it.
Here are seven award-winning architectural designs from Northwest Arkansas:
- Theatresquared
- Ozark Co-Op
- The Momentary
- Crystal Bridges
- Thorncrown Chapel
- Fayetteville High School
- Thaden School
Over the rest of this article, I will tell you a little about each of these unique structures, which are among my favorite designs in Northwest Arkansas. If you’re coming into town, make sure you check out my 3-day itinerary!
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Theatresquared
The first award-winning design on our list is a relatively new building that houses an arts and cultural space for the Fayetteville-based drama company Theatresquared.
A public venue for everything from theater to symphony performances, the Theatresquared building is characterized by its sleek modern design and has large open spaces that are welcoming and immersive.
The 50,000-square-foot building houses two beautiful state-of-the-art theaters, as well as rehearsal, education, and community spaces. It also has a bar and cafe that is open to the public all day long.
In a short time, the much-admired design has won multiple architectural design awards. So, be sure to catch a performance here if you get the opportunity and find out what makes this space special.
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Ozark Co-Op
The Ozark Co-Op is a neighborhood grocery store, but it’s also much more than that. It’s a great place to hang around and socialize. The design of the building that houses it plays a significant role in facilitating this warm and convivial atmosphere.
The space is open and inviting and well-loved by residents of Northwest Arkansas. Appreciating the thoughtfulness behind the design, the American Interior Design Society awarded it one of its top design awards.
The Co-Op sources a lot of its produce from local farmers, and they have a strict code of ethics that is both publicly available and firmly adhered to. If you’re interested in sourcing local and ethically grown food in the neighborhood, the Ozark Co-Op is the place to visit.
While you’re there, don’t forget to appreciate the incredible architecture.
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Also, I have a 3-day itinerary that can help you decide what activities to do if you’re overwhelmed by everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a foodie, a sports person, a sightseer, or want to spend quality time with your kids; I have something for you. Check out the link below to learn more:
https://www.allthingsnwa.com/3-day-itinerary-northwest-arkansas
The Momentary
The Momentary is an arts and cultural center located in the beating heart of Bentonville, Arkansas, right next to Crystal Bridges.
A former cheese factory, this innovative and exciting space is constantly changing and evolving depending on what’s happening at any given time. On any visit, the space is likely to have been transformed from the last time you were there. Perhaps, that’s why it’s called The Momentary.
The Momentary hosts a lot of great local and visiting bands. Every year they hold a fantastic bluegrass festival that is becoming increasingly popular. It also has excellent food and drink, making it a fun place to hang out with friends and family.
NWA is a beautiful place! Here are some Architecture in Northwest Arkansas – 7 Award-Winning Designs
Crystal Bridges
Arkansas is home to one of the finest collections of American art in the world. Not only is the Crystal Bridges Museum that houses it accessible for free to the public but it is also situated in a setting that has won awards for its splendid architecture.
So, you will see some exciting art here while moving through a building that is a work of art in itself.
The curators and staff always have interesting shows exhibiting at Crystal Bridges and are very passionate about their work. Apart from enjoying the art, you can also walk among the extensive grounds. And, of course, there’s a bar and cafe where you can catch up with friends after spending time with the exhibits.
The area is currently being expanded to almost double its current capacity. Work is expected to be concluded by 2024, and I’m very excited to see what new developments we will enjoy in Crystal Bridges in the near future.
If you’re interested in buying a home in the area, take a look at this helpful little guide I’ve put together.
Thorncrown Chapel
Thorncrown Chapel is another unique piece of architecture located in the Northwest Arkansas region. Famous across the world, it has won several design awards and was conceived by Jim Reed, who is native to the area.
Thorncrown is an actual chapel. It holds regular services and receives throngs of visitors each year, who come to enjoy a guided tour of the beautiful building and learn about its history. You can even choose to get married here, and it is an ideal location to host a special event.
The structure is considered an exemplar of the style known as Ozark Gothic. It shows all the hallmarks of the traditional Gothic–towering walls and ceilings and large windows that provide a lot of light–but it’s much more minimal and sleek than classic examples of the Gothic.
Finally, the Thorncrown Chapel also stands out for its idyllic location. It’s built in the middle of a tree system and blends wonderfully well into its environment, making it an exceptionally beautiful amalgamation of nature and culture.
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Fayetteville High School
The sleek modern design of Fayetteville High School has won numerous design awards in the region as well as nationally.
It consists of a series of extensive structures that are not just futuristic in outlook but also very well-designed. The new additions to the currently underway buildings span over 50,000 square feet, making it one of the largest civic structures in the area.
While the buildings appear enormous from the outside, their interiors are designed specifically keeping in mind the needs of a small learning community. They house state-of-the-art facilities that are aimed at keeping the school competitive and ensuring it thrives well into the future.
Thaden School
Thaden School is the final structure on our list of award-winning designs from the Northwest Arkansas area.
It is a wonderful combination of simple modern design and functionality. There’s a lot of glass and metal used here, and the buildings are marked by their distinctive sharp edges. But the design stills feels well-suited for the purposes it was conceived for.
Another thing I particularly like about the design of the Thaden school is its use of natural light.
Many schools these days use significant amounts of fluorescent lighting in their interiors, but the architects of Thaden decided that they wanted more natural light instead. So, they opened up the doors and windows and, sometimes, even the ceilings to give the building a more organic feel.
The realization of its modernist design in buildings that feel very livable makes Thaden School a deserving winner of the numerous design awards it has received.
