Mass timber featured in University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, research facility

The recently completed Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I³R), a public research institute at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, features mass timber offices and collaborative pavilion areas with an efficient steel laboratory corridor.

Skylights within the mass timber canopy allow dappled natural light to mimic the pattern of a forest floor—an homage to the nature surrounding the university and a nod to the City of Fayetteville’s commitment to sustainable building practices.

Funded by a grant from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, I³R is designed to bridge academic disciplines and foster convergence across sectors, including academia, industry, government, philanthropy, and community. Research will focus on how to maintain a healthy population and target FoodTech, HealthTech, and CyberTech.

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.

The design combines advanced laboratories and research equipment. Expansive collaborative spaces across all three floors spark interdisciplinary collaboration to address urgent challenges like human health protection, 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.

A central staircase serves as both a functional and symbolic focal point for movement and interaction. The building’s layout balances collaboration and focus, with 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.

“By pairing a high-performance steel lab bar with a welcoming mass timber pavilion, the building is grounded in Arkansas’ material heritage while projecting a bold, forward-looking identity,” says Meredith Hayes Gordon, HGA science + technology principal.

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.

On the project team:
Owner and/or developer: University of Arkansas
Architect of record: HGA in collaboration with Hufft
MEP engineer: Affiliated Engineers, Inc. 
Structural engineer: HGA
General contractor/construction manager: CDI Contractors