Windgate Center of Art + Design

UA Little Rock’s Windgate Center of Art + Design combines visual arts, applied arts, art history, and studio art programs within on 64,000 SF facility. The building contains classrooms, faculty offices, studios, art galleries, and event venues. Bernhard’s work included mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and structural design for the new building.

Our engineers worked with the project team to ensure the new building met UA Little Rock’s energy conservation goals and was designed to achieve LEED Silver certification. This included incorporating best practices for energy efficient mechanical systems design, including variable primary systems, high efficiency boilers, and energy recovery units.  LED lighting with energy efficient lighting controls, exceeding energy code requirements by nearly 50 percent.

Lighting design was a core focus of the project. Abstract patterns of light were used to guide occupants into the building’s galleries and work spaces. Gallery and studio lighting was designed so shadows would not be cast on the artwork itself. Through creative collaboration with the architect and Owner, our team created lighting systems that enhanced architectural features and provided ultimate function.