Preserving our sense of place in Northwest Arkansas through quality urban planning is one of our top priorities over the next five years. Today, we move forward with an initiative that will help us achieve this goal in an inspiring way – the Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program.

This enterprise will elevate architectural and landscape design in Benton and Washington counties. It will promote the highest level of design in the development of future buildings and spaces used for public purposes.

We are fortunate to have found ambitious partners to join us in this effort during our inaugural year.

In 2015, we will support a new 51,500-square-foot performance arts space for TheatreSquared in downtown Fayetteville, a 28,000-square-foot adaptive reuse facility for the Rogers Historical Museum in downtown Rogers and a new 35,000-square-foot facility and half-acre playground for the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center in Bentonville.

Through this program, the foundation will provide financial support to entities such as school districts; county, state or local municipalities; and nonprofit organizations that intend to develop space for public purposes.

As our region continues to grow, we want to extend a challenge to our partners: to think creatively and boldly about how design can complement and enhance our existing urban fabric.

Let’s advance Northwest Arkansas as a region that understands the value outstanding design brings to communities.