Since opening in the fall of 2015, the Faulkner Performing Arts Center, housed in a 1930’s WPA-constructed shell and a contributing structure to the University of Arkansas National Historic District, has quietly earned accolades from across the spectrum of design professionals for a number of accomplishments.  The primary challenge involved transforming a simple and fairly modest gymnasium into a 600-seat concert hall boasting superb acoustics.  A recipient of the highest Honor Award from the Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 2015, the project recently captured an award from the AIA’s Gulf States Region.  For best practices in historic preservation, the project was recognized by The City of Fayetteville Historic Preservation Commission as well as Preserve Arkansas, a statewide non-profit dedicated to the advocacy of historic preservation.  In 2016, the project earned LEED Silver for going above and beyond minimum code requirements in energy efficiency and other environmentally-conscious efforts.

So almost two years removed from the completion of this challenging though immensely fulfilling project, we’re left with a spirit of thankfulness for the numerous team members that made it possible.  First and foremost, to Jim & Joyce Faulkner for giving so generously, without whom the project would not have been possible.  We are grateful to University of Arkansas Facilities Management and the Board of Trustees for allowing us the opportunity to lead the design team on this project—and to our partner architects on the project, HGA Architects of Minneapolis, MN.  Other critical designers include theatre planners Schuler Shook of Dallas, TX; acousticians Jaffe Holden of Norwalk, CT; consulting engineers Bernhard TME, Engineering Consultants Inc. and Development Consultants, Inc., all of Fayetteville.  Manhattan Construction of Tulsa served as the Construction Manager, overseeing numerous capable subcontractors.

If you haven’t yet attended an event at the new Faulkner Performing Arts Center, we encourage you to check it out.  Learn more about upcoming events and tickets at:  http://faulkner.uark.edu/

Please note:  All images © 2016 Ken West Photography and Allison + Partners.

Any form of reproduction of an image (including copying, saving, or manipulating saved image files) is not allowed.

Faulkner Performing Arts Center At A Glance:

Project Location:  University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Project Client:  Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; UA FM Planning Group; UA Design & Construction Services.

Allison + Partners Project Team:  John Allison (Principal in Charge), Chris Hartsfield (Project Architect), Aaron Ruby (Historic Preservation Specialist), Katie Bruhl, Matthew Cabe, Mark Horne, Sarah Goss (Interior Designer).

Design Architect - HGA Architects: Tim Carl, Adam Luckhardt, Andrew Weyenberg.

Acoustical Consultant - Jaffe Holden

Theatrical Consultant - Schuler Shook

Civil Engineer and Landscape Architect - DCI

Structural Engineer - ECI

Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Engineers - TME Inc.

Contractor:  Manhattan Construction Compancy

Construction Completed:  September 2015

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