University of Arkansas: Student-Athlete Success Center

University of Arkansas: Student-Athlete Success Center

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Looking to provide a facility to address the academic, nutritional, personal and professional development of more than 460 student-athletes, the University of Arkansas called upon Heery International and WD&D Architects to set a new standard with the Jerry & Gene Jones Family Student-Athlete Success Center.

The 55,000-square-foot, $23-million facility combines the Bogle Academic Center and Sport Nutrition Center. The layout of the building offers a variety of spaces that encourage interaction and academic achievement with a central lobby serving academics on one side and dining on the other. The large, open spaces promote interface amongst teammates and cross-team interaction, while the smaller, private spaces allow for a more focused study environment. In total, the project includes 30+ tutor rooms, 5,000 square feet of open study and lounge space, 3,800 square feet of computer and group lab space, a 135+ seat auditorium, 90+ seat multipurpose room and academic counselor offices.

The Jones Success Center also houses a wellness wing for a sports psychologist and dietitians as well as areas specific to student-athlete development with the Razorback Leadership Academy and community outreach and the Educational Enrichment Services for accelerated learning. The Sports Nutrition Center, with a full-service kitchen and seating for 250 student-athletes, emphasizes convenience to maximize the student-athletes’ time.

The main focus in the design was to increase student-athlete efficiency and effectiveness. The end result was a one-stop shop for all of the aforementioned areas for student-athletes to maximize their time throughout the day. The Jones Success Center will serve as the hub for student-athletes to interact and call home. It will be the most used facility during their time as Razorbacks, and the programs they participate in while in the building will also impact them for their rest of their lives.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts

    Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Secret to Efficient, On-Time School Infrastructure & Modernization Projects is All in the Preparation

    Warmer weather and longer days make summer the ideal time for construction and modernization projects at educational facilities. School boards and construction firms must coordinate effectively to ensure that these projects do not extend even a single day into the school year and impede classroom operation.

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.

  • Florida District Completes Construction on New Leadership Institute

    Pinellas County Schools near Tampa, Fla., recently announced that construction is complete on the new Dr. Michael A. Grego Leadership Institute, according to a news release. The district partnered with Rowe Architects for the project’s design and with Skanska for construction services.