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the Columbus Visitors Center. “When visitors come to town, they frequently remark that average citizens approach them on the street completely unsolicited to share information about the architecture. Our schools do a great job of instilling in our kids the idea that they are fortunate to grow up in a beautiful and atypical community.” In Northwest Arkansas, architects interested in being part of the talent pool had until September 16 to apply. The selection commit- tee includes Victor Dover, principal-in-charge at Miami-based Do- ver, Kohl & Partners ; Peter MacKeith, dean of the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design ; Elizabeth Meyer, professor and dean of the University of Virginia School of Architecture ; Cynthia Weese, founding principal of Chicago-based Weese Langley Weese Architects Ltd. ; and Minkel of the Walton Family Foundation. MacKeith explains the goal of the program. “One of the most important tasks our committee will have is ensur- ing architects, landscape architects, and urban designers working within the Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program under- stand our region,” he says. “Our colleagues should be able to reflect and complement the strong place-based design qualities that char- acterize the region, from the vernacular to the modern. The talent, skill, and knowledge of the Arkansas design professions, along with national and international best practices, will advance the region as a recognized home for American architecture and design.” Hawkins says the Cummins program is not just a thing of the past. The Cummins buildings are still in use, and most of them are being utilized for their original purpose. Most recently, the Cummins pro- gram sponsored Columbus Regional Health’s Volunteers in Medi- cine clinic. Columbus, about 40 miles south of Indianapolis, has no theme park, professional sports team, or major commercial draw. But due to its abundance of world-class architecture and hometown feel, it’s gar- nered mention in National Geographic Traveler and in GQ . And plen- ty of people have taken notice. “We get people from all over the world,” Hawkins says. “Just this summer we’ve had visits from the Finnish ambassador to the U.S., the director of the Virta Design Museum in Germany, the mayor of Miyoshi, Japan, and tourists from Spain and Austria. We get every- thing from busloads of senior citizens to groups of architects, archi- tecture students, people taking girlfriends’ getaways, and romantic weekends.”

City Hall by Edward Charles Bassett

Clifty Creek Elementary School by Richard Meier & Associates

Columbus East High School by Mitchell | Giurgola Architects

BER 16, 2015, ISSUE 1128

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