Copyright Arkansas Online
BENTONVILLE -- Representatives of firms tapped to design a new health care campus in Bentonville aim to create a space that feels less like a place to get treated and more like a place to live well. The Alice L. Walton Foundation announced in a news release Wednesday it has chosen global design firm CannonDesign and global planning, landscape architecture and urban design firm EDSA to design its future Bentonville Health Care Campus. The foundation announced in February it had purchased 100 acres approximately two miles east of downtown Bentonville for the campus, which will include a cardiac care facility. Mayor Stephanie Orman said at the time the announcement of the campus was a big step forward for the community. "It's going to make it easier for local residents to get the care they need, especially when it comes to heart health," she said. "It also positions Bentonville as a leader in accessible, world-class medical services. This is a huge investment in the well-being of our city, and we're excited to see how it will benefit everyone in the long run." Studies by the Northwest Arkansas Council and the Heartland Whole Heath Institute revealed area residents frequently must leave the region to receive specialty care, with cardiology services as an area of greatest need. The foundation, the institute and the Mercy health system announced in September 2024 a 30-year, $700 million affiliation agreement in a joint effort to expand access to health care, reduce costs and improve health outcomes in the region. Cleveland Clinic will collaborate as well, providing cardiovascular expertise to the effort. Mercy's experience and history in planning places of care and healing is shaping the building design on the Bentonville Health Care Campus, which will include a Center for Advanced Specialty Care, supporting the partnership and creating a transformative model of care, according to Wednesday's release. "Our innovative partnership focused on bringing world-class specialty care to our region needs equally innovative design partners," said founder and philanthropist Alice Walton. She said CannonDesign and EDSA bring to the project "an understanding of whole health and how our environment and interactions influence our 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." 'LIVING-CENTERED DESIGN' The proposed design for the Bentonville Health Care Campus represents a departure from conventional health care offerings, according to the foundation. Rather than a series of clinical buildings connected with parking lots, the campus is a fully integrated environment design focused on enhancing whole-person health -- physical, mental, social and emotional well-being, the release states. "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. "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." An extensive landscape strategy choreographs movement through the site, aiming to turn every step into a restorative experience, according to the foundation. At its edges, the campus opens to the community with green spaces intended to invite connection and comfort, while deeper within, a network of trails and pedestrian paths link areas designed for quiet retreat. Water will serve as both a unifying feature of the landscape and a key part of the campus' sustainability strategy, the release states. Stormwater will be captured, cleansed and reused. "Every design decision is guided by ecological wellness and human experience," said Gregg Sutton, EDSA principal. "Through architecture, landscape and art, we're crafting spaces that feel alive, connect people to nature and inspire healing. Materials like wood, stone, glass and metal 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." 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, according to the release. Arkansas-based Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects will work with CannonDesign as local architects of record, the foundation reported. Additional contractors include Flintco Construction as construction manager, Nabholz handling large scale campus development and Walter P. Moore for civil engineering. The initial phase is located in the north portion of the acreage, accessible through Central Avenue and McCollum Drive, and adjacent to Interstate 49, according to the release. Initial plans propose opening this section in December 2028. A LARGER STRATEGY The future Bentonville Health Care Campus is one of many efforts by Walton focused on tackling the health challenges faced in Northwest Arkansas. Walton founded the Heartland Whole Health Institute, which is focused on reforming care delivery and payment models that can be duplicated across the country. The Alice L. Walton School of Medicine opened its doors to its first class of students in July, with a goal of educating the next generation of physicians with a curriculum that includes whole health principles. Mercy is serving as its primary teaching partner in that effort. Both organizations are located on the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art campus, approximately two miles from the future Bentonville Health Care Campus.
