THADEN BIKE BARN EXHIBIT MODEL

The American Academy of Arts and Letters Model

The Thaden School is a new independent middle and high school in Bentonville, Arkansas, designed by Marlon Blackwell Architects.

The Thaden Bike Barn School scale model is constructed entirely out of basswood for an exhibition at The American Academy of Arts and Letters.

The school is sited on a berm on the eastern edge of the campus next to the soccer field, the cyclo-cross track, and the pump track, the Bike Barn is integrated into a network of trails for biking and walking that connect Thaden School to a larger network of trails as part of the Razorback Greenway System. By reconfiguring the profile of an Ozark gambrel barn to maximize the height below the trusses, a variety of sports can be accommodated, including volleyball, basketball, and cycling, while also providing bike storage and support facilities. A local manufacturer fabricated the trusses, which were developed collaboratively using local materials and expertise.