Students,DepartmentofLandscape Architecture,FayJonesSchoolofArchitecture+ Design,UniversityofArkansas

The Eureka Springs School of the Arts is located deep within the Ozark mountains in Northwest Arkansas. The school lies 10 minutes west of Eureka Springs and 50minutes east of Bentonville. The school provides classes in woodworking, iron & metals work, clay pottery, and 2D art. They also expect to expand their number of classes by adding new studios in the near future. Because of this sudden expansion, they were looking for an increase in parking as well as new locations for those studios.

The focus of the ESSA Site Revitalization is to reconnect faculty and students through better designed circulation, while utilizing designed outdoor spaces and controlling stormwater runoff. Collaboration and interviews with the Eureka Springs School of the Arts board members introduced key problem areas on the site, and personal ideas about how they see the future of ESSA functioning.

The problems established on site included (1) major erosion issues due to the Ozark’s notable steep terrain, (2) weak establishment of place and poor pedestrian connection, and (3) lack of stormwater management throughout the site. In order to remediate the issues on site, the design team at the University of Arkansas collaborated closely with board members and one another to gather a comprehensive site inventory and analysis. Historical elements of Eureka Springs were used to inspire designs that spoke to the natural landscape of the Ozarks.

Through the information obtained from site analysis, we were able to produce a comprehensive site design focused on improved circulation and stormwater control.

AQUATIC ARTISTRY – INTERSECTION OF CREATIVITY AND WATER MANAGEMENT

AT THE EUREKA SPRINGS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Analysis & Planning: Student - MERIT AWARD