In the spring of 2023, an EF-3 tornado tore through central Arkansas leaving a path of destruction from Little Rock to Wynne. The storm destroyed whole neighborhoods and left many people without homes. In the city of Wynne, it left a community without its only senior high school. Polk Stanley Wilcox, in partnership with ARCH 1010, is honored to partner with the Wynne School District to design the new replacement high school, set to open for the 2026/2027 school year.
The design of the new high school is inspired by the school mascot, the Yellowjackets. In form, the building is splayed open towards the west with two “wings” that pull people into the central entrance of the building. The main façade interweaves a brightly colored pattern of blues and yellows, which are not only the school colors but whose pattern coalesces in the center into a texture that evokes the stripes on a yellowjacket.
Once inside the building, spaces such as the cafeteria, media center and lobby areas are oriented around an open-air courtyard where students can enjoy fresh air during the day safely within the building perimeter. The building also features a 900-seat auditorium and a practice gym that serves dual purpose as a storm shelter.
Landscaping and site design are integral to the new campus as a means of melding the campus with the community. For instance, “Wynne Way” is a bus drive during school days but becomes a festival street for afterhours events. The large “WYNNE” letters brand the school and create an iconic gathering place for the whole community.
When completed, the school will tell the story of a community’s perseverance through disaster, overcoming odds and projecting a bright future for Wynne’s next generation.
