University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation
New research facility advances innovative mass timber applications to address pressing issues in housing and sustainability.
As part of the University of Arkansas’ Windgate Art & Design District, the Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation is more than a space for learning—it’s a living demonstration of sustainable design and the transformative potential of mass timber. Showcasing the expressive and structural versatility of wood, the center advances construction technologies aimed at improving housing affordability across Arkansas and the broader region.
Incorporating over 62,000 cubic feet of timber, the facility pays tribute to the state’s rich forestry heritage while looking toward the future of mass timber construction. As an expansion of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, the center provides a working laboratory where research, fabrication, and applied learning intersect. Supporting the university’s land-grant mission, it houses a new integrated wood design graduate program and fosters collaboration with partners in Arkansas’s forest industries.
Spanning 50,000 square feet, the building features a four-story tower and a double-height materials laboratory that together create an uplifting environment for students, faculty, and the community. Within, flexible studios, classrooms, and seminar rooms complement exhibition spaces, and a state-of-the-art fabrication shop equipped with robotic arms, CNC routers, and 3D printing technologies. This dynamic environment positions the Anthony Timberlands Center as a hub for innovation in sustainable architecture and materials research—where design, technology, and regional resources converge.
“The project embodies the design excellence for which the school, university, and region are known, but also demonstrates commitment to the greater environmental and economic good of the state, especially to those citizens and enterprises in the forested regions.”
Affiliated Engineers, Inc. (AEI) provided an integrated engineering approach that supported both the building’s functionality and high-performance goals. With sustainability guiding every aspect of the project, building performance modeling was critical for informing design decisions and striking a balance between energy use, occupant comfort, and cost efficiency. AEI employed energy modeling to evaluate a range of HVAC strategies, solar shading approaches, and envelope performance optimizations, including insulation. The design emphasizes passive methods such as thermal mass, daylighting, and—most notably—the main workshop’s natural ventilation. The expansive high-bay space and atrium leverage both cross and stack ventilation to promote airflow and maintain comfort without mechanical cooling. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling further refined the design, identifying stagnant air zones and informing adjustments to louver placement and sizing for improved ventilation performance.
Flexible classroom spaces flooded with natural light foster collaboration and creativity for architecture and design students.
- 62,000
- cubic feet of timber
While the primary driver for the use of mass timber was sustainability, aesthetics played an important role as well. Exposed timber celebrates the material’s natural warmth and character, requiring AEI to intentionally integrate the building systems. The team designed the mechanical, electrical, and piping (MEP) infrastructure to remain visible yet unobtrusive, strategically tucking components into structural voids and carefully organizing distribution pathways to maintain the clean, cohesive visual language of the timber architecture.
AEI’s integrated design incorporates multiple passive and active energy-efficient systems into the facility, in support of the university’s broader sustainability goals. The central HVAC system uses a dedicated outside air system to decouple ventilation from space loads with an enthalpy wheel for energy recovery and a desiccant wheel for passive dehumidification. This approach offers the greatest energy savings while also minimizing ductwork size and reducing penetrations in the timber structure. AEI conducted an extensive study of the building's form and onsite renewable energy generation capabilities, with the building prepared for future photovoltaic installations. Fire protection and water systems, including efficient hybrid electric water heaters and low-flow fixtures, also reduce energy consumption and contribute to LEED® credits.
Given the complexity of these systems and the need to maintain optimal building performance, the design included a building automation system capable of monitoring and controlling all critical MEP infrastructure. The facility is also equipped with enhanced connectivity and flexibility, featuring robust fiber-optic networks, audiovisual capabilities, and security systems supporting collaborative learning and research.
- 20,000
- square feet dedicated to materials labs and fabrication shops
The striking mass timber exterior showcases locally sourced Arkansas wood, emphasizing sustainability and regional identity within the Windgate Art and Design District.
Targeting LEED® Gold certification, the facility achieves 32% energy savings over the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 baseline. With its mass timber structure, natural ventilation, extensive daylighting, and rainwater collection, the center exemplifies an environmentally responsive design that reduces embodied carbon while supporting the local timber industry.
The expansive fabrication lab supports hands-on learning and innovation with advanced digital tools, robotic arms, and woodworking equipment.
- 32%
- energy savings over ASHRAE 90.1-2010 baseline
Through thoughtful collaboration, AEI helped the University of Arkansas realize its most ambitious mass timber project to date. This inspiring facility unites education, research, and sustainability to shape the next generation of architects and engineers, while also supporting Arkansas’ citizens and economy.