The new facility for the Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I3R) stands as a bold landmark, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, driving economic impact, and strengthening connections between campus and community. Centrally located on the University of Arkansas Fayetteville campus, the public research institute advances health sciences and technology breakthroughs while attracting investment and high-skill jobs to Northwest Arkansas—contributing to the region’s position as a hub for research-driven economic development.

I³R is designed to bridge academic disciplines and foster convergence across sectors, including academia, industry, government, philanthropy, and community. Focused on “wicked problems,” I³R’s vision encompasses FoodTech, HealthTech, and CyberTech, embracing a comprehensive approach to health and well-being. This approach includes promoting “well-health” with an emphasis on maintaining a healthy population rather than solely focusing on curing diseases. It integrates health strategies and ecosystems that address a broad spectrum, from enhancing food security to leveraging AI for improved health systems.

Drawing inspiration from Arkansas’ forested landscape, the design blends mass timber offices and collaborative pavilions with an efficient steel laboratory corridor. Skylights in the mass timber canopy allow dappled natural light to filter through, mimicking the pattern of a forest floor, while a neutral interior palette highlights the raw beauty of natural materials. The building’s biophilic design thoughtfully integrates natural materials and organic patterns, strengthening the connection between occupants and their surroundings.

The design team partnered with the Institute to deliver a facility that combines advanced laboratories and research equipment. Expansive collaborative spaces across all three floors, sparks interdisciplinary collaboration to address urgent challenges like human health protection, addressing the food-energy-water nexus, and exploring the universe at various scales. The public atrium encourages spontaneous interaction while laboratory spaces offer flexibility to adapt as research evolves.

Strategic positioning of I³R encourages interaction between the University and Fayetteville’s historic downtown. Situated along a major campus thoroughfare and the accessible path connecting the Old Main campus to the Oakridge Trail, the location promotes engagement with local industries, enhanced by programs designed to increase visibility and accessibility.

I³R cultivates a dynamic environment that supports health and well-being — welcoming occupants with a central staircase that serves as both a functional and symbolic focal point for movement and interaction. The building’s layout balances collaboration and focus, with flexible laboratory areas, interactive spaces, and offices and conference rooms set back from exterior walls. This configuration keeps the perimeter open for maximum daylight, campus views, and quiet work zones, all seamlessly connected to the lively central atrium.

Design: HGA and Hufft
Contractor: CDI Contractors
MEP Engineering: AEI Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
Civil Engineering: DCI Development Consultants Inc.
Structural Engineering: HGA
Photography: Michael Robinson