JONESBORO — Arkansas State University officially opened the Windgate Hall of Art and Innovation on Friday, unveiling a $25 million facility intended to serve as a collaborative space for multiple academic disciplines.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by more than 100 guests on the Jonesboro campus, university officials highlighted the role the Windgate Foundation—A-State’s largest benefactor—played in funding the project. The building is named for the foundation, which provided the donation to make the facility possible.
The new hall is equipped with cutting-edge tools and technology, including 3D printers, virtual reality systems, and specialized studios to support creative and technical endeavors. The space is designed to bring together students and faculty from programs such as art and design, engineering, and computer science.
Katherine Baker, chair of A-State's Department of Art + Design, emphasized the value of fostering collaboration among seemingly different disciplines. “While these disciplines initially seem quite different from one another, they really are united under the idea of creativity,” Baker said. “And creativity is problem-solving.”
The grand opening coincided with the department’s alumni reunion. Windgate Hall will serve as the central hub for reunion events, including campus tours planned over the weekend.
Windgate Hall is expected to be instrumental in furthering A-State’s mission to provide an innovative learning environment that blends creativity with technology.