University of Arkansas Research Facility Reaches Construction Milestone

Construction on the Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I3R) on the campus of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., recently reached a significant milestone, according to university news. Workers completed steel framing and placed the first column of cross-laminated timber, a staple of the facility’s environmentally conscious design.

“These buildings are proof of concept in terms of time-efficiency, cost savings, and a safer construction site,” said Peter MacKieth, Dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, in a New York Times article about mass timber design and construction on university campuses. Cross-laminated timber is a pre-fabricated word panel made from dimensional plans of lumber that have been stacked, glued, and laminated in perpendicular layers. It has become more popular in construction thanks to its low environmental impact and ease of use.

According to the university website, the facility will measure in at 144,000 square feet and was designed to inspire collaboration, innovation, and integration. Its location on campus was deliberately chosen to encourage interaction among different disciplines. The facility will house state-of-the-art technology, lab space, research equipment, and collaborative spaces built to help the community at large workshop ideas.

“The university is doubling down on its commitment to excellence in research,” said Margaret Sova McCabe, interim vice chancellor for research and innovation. “In serving the entire university, I3R and this new, state-of-the-art facility will augment our collective research capabilities and strengthen Arkansas’ profile as a leader in research and innovation.”

The university partnered with Hufft and HGA Architects for the building’s design. Its form and façade echo the nearby forest landscape; its timber roof will allow daylight to filter into the main atrium, while the front and back porches will both connect the building to the environment while suggesting a sense of openness to the university community.

The facility is scheduled to open during the fall 2024 semester.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Tennant Company Launches Autonomous Floor Scrubber

    Cleaning equipment and solutions provider Tennant Company recently launched the new X6 ROVR, a mid-sized robotic scrubber designed for large commercial and light-industrial environments, according to a news release. The autonomous machine can clean up to 75,000 square feet peer cycle with minimal needs for manual assistance.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Introduces Claude for Education

    Anthropic has launched a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2025 New Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning is now accepting entries for the 2025 New Product Awards! The program’s goal is to honor the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products and services are particularly noteworthy in helping to improve K–12 and Higher Education learning environments.

  • KnowBe4 Releases Report on Education Sector’s Preparedness for Cyberattacks

    Cybersecurity platform KnowBe4 recently released a new research report titled “From Primary Schools to Universities, The Global Education Sector is Unprepared for Escalating Cyber Attacks,” according to a news release.

Digital Edition