Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences & The Arts

Hot Springs, AR

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (ASMSA) for years has housed some of the best and brightest young minds in what is, in effect, an abandoned hospital.  The Master Plan we authored for the School initiated an ambitious effort to build a new home worthy of the great teaching efforts occurring at the school.

Positioned on top of an acropolis-like hill 25 feet above the existing old hospital,  The first phase, a 250 bed Residence Life and Student Center, rises above the city, giving ASMSA the instantly identifiable presence in Hot Springs that the school has been lacking.  The key iconic feature, a functional elevator/stair tower, connects the lower classroom buildings to the residences above, while giving ASMSA its own unique tower among many traditional towers in Hot Springs.  The “beacon” effect of the tower’s lobbies and stained wood roof deck presents a glow of beautiful natural colors, sitting among the tall trees on the hill.  The existing dormitory, which sits directly in front of the new Residence Life is to be demolished.  Once this is complete, the school will truly be a “beacon on the hill”.  An outdoor activity court and glass “living room” pavilion, cloistered between the residence wings, allows students to see and be seen within a protected environment.

The design incorporates valuable information gained through multiple charettes with students, faculty, and city officials, creating a safe, yet vibrant atmosphere that will foster learning and enhance the student experience.