Ecological Design Group is chosen to join Walton Family Foundation's Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program

n June 2019, the Walton Family Foundation selected 18 new design firms to join its Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program. Ecological Design Group was among those included. The Design Excellence Program was created in 2015 to promote the highest level of design in the development of future public buildings and spaces in Benton and Washington counties. It selects design professionals and projects based on four key principles: a commitment to strengthening public life; elevating standards of sustainability and resilience; celebrating local cultures and place; and building regional capacity.

Since its launch, the Design Excellence Program has supported 11 projects across the region’s five largest downtowns. To date, its design professionals have completed Memorial Park in Siloam Springs, the Rogers Historical Museum and the Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center in Bentonville, with TheatreSquared in Fayetteville and a portion of Thaden School’s campus in Bentonville set to open this summer.

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Martin Smith’s Vision to Revitalize the Delta

Landscape Architect Magazine’s November edition contains a feature story profiling Martin Smith and his grand vision for revitalizing the Delta.

Media

The Delta Project

Gravel crunches under our mountain bike tires as we roll through the small northeast Arkansas town of Birdeye. “This is the biggest climb around here,” says Martin Smith—our friend and fearless leader—as we hit the base of a not-insignificant incline. The mid-morning sun is already drawing sweat as our party of four crests the hill, and I wonder if I’ve underestimated riding in the Delta—not a great way to start a two-day journey.

Accolades

Winning in Wynne

Thanks to Rex Nelson for the great article in the "Arkansas Democrat-Gazette" and for the recognition of EDG's Martin Smith and his work in assisting in the revitalization of Downtown Wynne, Arkansas.