The Bentonville School of Medicine by Polk Stanley Wilcox, funded by Alice Walton, introduces a purpose-designed campus that merges medical education with community wellness. Set in a previously underused municipal landscape, the project transforms two low-rise buildings into clinical learning environments and teaching spaces. Inspired by Arkansas’s regional vernacular, the design features warm brick facades, deep overhangs, and landscape-led courtyards that tie indoor environments to outdoor healing gardens. The result is a facility that feels grounded and approachable despite its academic purpose.

Inside, daylight-filled classrooms and simulation labs sit alongside public health hubs and patient-care clinics, creating seamless overlap between education and community service. Timber accents and human-scaled details soften the clinical interior, while collaborative spaces foster interaction among students, staff, and local residents. Thoughtful planning prioritizes wellness and accessibility—wide circulation paths, natural ventilation, and habitat-rich landscaping encourage movement, social connection, and reflection. The Bentonville School of Medicine sets a new bar for educational architecture, blending healthcare, learning, and community into a cohesive, people-centered environment.

Image Credit: Timothy Hursley