JONESBORO, Ark. – A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place today for Windgate Hall of Art and Innovation at Arkansas State University, marking a significant addition to the university’s academic and creative spaces.
The new facility brings together students in the Art + Design Department and the College of Engineering and Computer Science, creating opportunities for collaboration and a multidisciplinary educational experience.
“A collaboration that began a decade ago, the Windgate Foundation has allowed us to bring the magic of limitless making to our students, providing state-of-the-art facilities where they can and will engage in craft and expand their creativity,” said Dr. Kat Baker, chair of the Art + Design Department.
The $25 million project includes $20 million in construction costs and $5 million dedicated to building maintenance.
The Windgate Foundation is the university’s largest single benefactor in its 115-year history, with endowments exceeding $40 million.
“Today is an example of what is possible when vision meets generosity, when philanthropy meets purpose, and when people believe in the transformative power of the arts and higher education. Perhaps no organization has demonstrated a belief in A-State more profoundly than the Windgate Foundation,” said Dr. Calvin White Jr., interim chancellor.
The Hall opened in August ahead of the fall semester and features collaborative spaces, new technology, and equipment designed to support innovation and hands-on learning, giving students access to these opportunities from the first day of their academic journey.
“Oftentimes the key to solving the problem at hand is viewing it through a different lens. And that is exactly what the project studio, open lab space is designed to promote. This lab is equipped with technology and resources that will allow students and faculty to move from an idea to a tangible prototype or a sketch to an immersive experience,” said Dr. Jake Qualls, chair of the Computer Science Department.
Dr. William McLean, interim provost and executive vice chancellor, said higher education institutions are at their best when people with different ideas, experiences and areas of expertise come together to learn from one another.
“The opportunities they will pursue rarely fit neatly within the boundaries of a single academic discipline. An engineer or programmer can benefit from understanding design, and an artist or designer can benefit from understanding technology,” he said.
A new gallery on the ground floor provides students with space to exhibit their work and will also showcase pieces by visiting artists. These spaces will further allow faculty and staff to expand community engagement through events, exhibitions and programming, bringing a new era of art to Northeast Arkansas.
Windgate Hall complements Art + Design’s Windgate Center for Three-Dimensional Arts, which opened in 2021 and is located just steps away. The center provides students with open studio spaces for woodworking, ceramics and other art disciplines.