Design Excellence Program

Design Excellence Program is sponsored by Walton Family Foundation. Supports architectural and construction costs for projects that integrate community and future growth.

Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program Using design to drive vibrant, inclusive communities in Northwest Arkansas Over the last 25 years, the population in Northwest Arkansas has more than doubled, creating opportunities and challenges in planning and design. The program seeks to create public spaces that feel welcoming for everyone and support meaningful and shared experiences.

The program fosters connections and inspires a sense of belonging by identifying top design professionals and funding the design of select projects.

Create opportunities for people to spend quality time in public – moving or staying, alone or with others Elevate Standards of Sustainability and Resilience: Adhere to standards of sustainability, elevate ambitions and demonstrate relation of resilience to people and place Celebrate Local Cultures and Place: Enhance and respond to local social history and cultures as well as climate and geography Raise local ambitions and build knowledge and skills among the design community and public Frequently Asked Questions What's unique about Northwest Arkansas?

The founders of the Walton Family Foundation, Sam and Helen Walton, made Northwest Arkansas their home, and today, their children and grandchildren are dedicated to continuing a legacy of giving and building opportunity in the region. Northwest Arkansas is ranked again and again as one of the best places to live in the country.

It's nestled in the Ozark Mountains, a prime location and climate for recreation, and it is home to several Fortune 500 companies, the University of Arkansas and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The population has increased 58% since 2010, and opportunity abounds for visitors and residents alike.

The Design Excellence Program will help preserve the region’s sense of place as the area continues to flourish and enhance the public spaces that define life in Northwest Arkansas. How does the Design Excellence Program work?

The application process for design professionals opens when the Design Excellence Selection Committee determines there is a need for specific design backgrounds, to replace firms that have been awarded projects or replace firms whose five-year term has expired.

The Design Excellence Selection Committee, which is comprised of industry experts and Walton Family Foundation representatives, will review qualifications and invite select design firms to join the program. Design professionals will be able to participate in the Design Excellence Program for up to five years, or until they are selected for a project.

Selection does not guarantee an interview for a project, nor does it guarantee that a project will ultimately be approved. Through the Design Excellence Program, the foundation regularly partners with local municipalities and nonprofit organizations by offering financial support for all aspects of design.

Projects are typically selected through: A direct invitation from the Walton Family Foundation to apply for the program based on the organization’s potential to enhance the foundation’s efforts in the arts, education, entrepreneurship or preserving the region’s sense of place An open call for applications that complement the Walton Family Foundation’s efforts to support a specific area of design such as developing green spaces or enhancing urban design As projects are determined, the Selection Committee will review the project’s unique design needs and choose a core group of design professionals who may be a good fit for the project.

This core group will be presented to the grantee for consideration and final approval. Final decisions on the design professional and design outcome will be made by the grantee. Learn more about how to apply.

How many design firms have been chosen for participation? There are currently over 100 architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and city planning firms that have been admitted for five-year rolling terms in the Design Excellence Program. See the full list of selected firms.

How can I contact someone to learn more about the Design Excellence Program? To ask a question or to be added to our mailing list to be notified when application periods open, please email us at design@wffmail. com .

Projects selected to date: A 4.

6-acre destination park in downtown Rogers Springdale Municipal Campus Springdale Municipal Campus A 125,000-square-foot Municipal Complex in downtown Springdale A 12-acre cultural arts corridor in downtown Fayetteville A destination park and cycling hub on nearly 100 acres in Bentonville A collaborative playscape between Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Scott Family Amazeum A 51,500-square-foot performance art space in downtown Fayetteville Expansion and renovation of Luther George Park in downtown Springdale Four accessory dwelling units with open source plans in downtown Bentonville A Quilt of Parks and a full redesign of Dave Peel Park in downtown Bentonville A 28,000-square-foot adaptive reuse museum building in downtown Rogers A revitalized historic 5-acre park in downtown Siloam Springs Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center A high-quality early childhood education center in downtown Bentonville Downtown Rogers Alleyway Activation Downtown Rogers Alleyway Activation A design to transform five blocks of alleyways into an arts-focused pedestrian destination Jones Center Campus Vision Jones Center Campus Vision A design that reimagines a 52-acre outdoor campus at a beloved community recreation center in downtown Springdale Bentonville City Hall Campus Bentonville City Hall Campus Conceptual designs for an expanded City Hall Downtown Bentonville 7th & A Pocket Neighborhood Downtown Bentonville 7th & A Pocket Neighborhood Affordable “missing middle” housing in a rapidly changing downtown Bentonville neighborhood Razorback Regional Greenway Corridor Plan Razorback Regional Greenway Corridor Plan Encouraging a transportation mode shift and strategic land use planning along the Greenway.

Bentonville Public Schools Downtown Campus Master Plan Bentonville Public Schools Downtown Campus Master Plan Conceptual design for a campus transformation that preserves historic significance while serving a growing student population NorthWest Arkansas Community College Master Plan NorthWest Arkansas Community College Master Plan A master plan that reimagines the college as a future-ready, community-rooted institution