Caption: Rendering of the proposed Center for Advanced Specialty Care on the future Bentonville Health Care Campus | Photo Credit (all): Courtesy CannonDesign
By Lindsey Coulter
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Alice L. Walton Foundation announced the selection of global design firm CannonDesign and global planning, landscape architecture and urban design firm EDSA to design the organization’s future Bentonville Health Care Campus.
The project was first announced in February and will be located on a 100-acre site in Bentonville, Ark. The creation of the campus follows an announcement of a 30-year, $700 million affiliation agreement between the Foundation, Mercy and Heartland Whole Health Institute to expand access to healthcare, reduce costs and improve health outcomes. The Cleveland Clinic will also collaborate, bringing world-class cardiovascular expertise to the effort. This initiative aims to improve healthcare outcomes in the region through a whole-health approach that integrates nature, art, and architectural design to support physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.
In a statement, Walton noted that the firms bring an understanding of whole health and how the environment and interactions influence health and well-being. “They’ve coupled that understanding with admiration for the beauty of the Ozark region and the collaborative spirit of our community, and channeled it into designs that enhance accessibility, connection and ultimately wellness,” Walton added.
“We’re designing this campus through the lens of Living-Centered Design, which explores how places can help people live healthier lives and support stronger communities,” said PJ Glasco, Project Executive and Health Practice Leader at CannonDesign, in a statement. “What the foundation is striving to achieve with this campus is extraordinary, as it addresses interconnected health needs at a scale few have ever attempted. Our team is thrilled to help bring this vision to life and demonstrate how design can directly shape healthier outcomes across the region.”
To enhance healthcare efforts indoors, the project will also include a welcoming green space and an extensive landscape strategy to foster restorative experiences. A network of trails and pedestrian paths will link contemplative areas designed for quiet retreat. According to a statement by the Alice L. Walton Foundation, water will serve as both a unifying feature of the landscape and a key part of the campus’s sustainability strategy, as stormwater will be captured, cleansed and reused.
“Every design decision is guided by ecological wellness and human experience,” said Gregg Sutton, EDSA Principal, in a statement. “Through architecture, landscape, and art, we’re crafting spaces that feel alive, connect people to nature, and inspire healing.”
Sutton added that materials such as wood, stone, glass, and metal will work in harmony with flowing water and curated art to create environments that support both physical and emotional well-being.
“The goal is for the campus to feel less like a place to ‘get treated’ and more like a place to live well,” Sutton said.
The Foundation’s current work with CannonDesign and EDSA is focused on an initial phase to include the Center for Advanced Specialty Care, a parking garage, and a central utility building as well as extensive landscape, gardens, trails, and grounds. Arkansas-based Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects will work with CannonDesign as local architects of record; the firm’s recent work includes the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine building. Additional contractors include: Flintco Construction (Construction Manager); Nabholz (Large Scale Campus Development); and Walter P Moore (Civil Engineering).
The Bentonville Health Care Campus is one of several significant projects to address the various healthcare challenges within northwest Arkansas. These include the Heartland Whole Health Institute and the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, which opened in July.