A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday marked the official opening of Windgate Hall of Art and Innovation at Arkansas State University, a $25 million addition aimed at fostering collaboration among students in art, design, engineering, and computer science.
The project, funded in part by the Windgate Foundation, represents a decade-long vision to create a multidisciplinary educational space. Officials said $20 million went toward construction, with an additional $5 million allocated for maintenance. The foundation, the largest single benefactor in A-State’s 115-year history, has contributed over $40 million to the university's endowments.
"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.
Interim Chancellor Dr. Calvin White Jr. described the hall’s opening as a testament to the power of vision and philanthropy. "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," he said.
The hall opened ahead of the fall semester and features shared studios, advanced technology, and spaces designed for creative and hands-on learning. These facilities include project studios and open laboratory areas that allow students and faculty to transform ideas into tangible prototypes or immersive experiences.
Dr. Jake Qualls, chair of the Computer Science Department, highlighted the importance of these spaces in fostering innovative problem-solving. "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," Qualls said.
Dr. Will McLean, interim university provost and executive vice chancellor, emphasized the value of interdisciplinary learning. "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," McLean noted.
Complementing the Windgate Center for Three-Dimensional Arts, which opened in 2021, the hall features a gallery on its ground floor to showcase student and visiting artist works. Dr. Baker said these spaces would allow faculty and staff to deepen community engagement through exhibitions and events, ushering in a new era of art for Northeast Arkansas.
"Future generations of Delta artists will have the chance to make bigger and better work, allowing their imaginations to lead the way, without barriers set by equipment or square footage. With the opening of the Windgate Center for Three-Dimensional Arts and the Hall, our community has been fundamentally altered," Baker added.
For students like Nathan Scarbrough, a senior graphic design major from Jonesboro, the new facility offers unparalleled opportunities. "This building also has amazing different spaces for students to hang out, do homework together, and learn together," Scarbrough said. "The resources and opportunities we have—it's a blessing like none else."
Located near the Windgate Center, Windgate Hall further strengthens Arkansas State University’s role as a hub for innovation, creativity, and community connection in Northeast Arkansas.