University of Arkansas Restores Iconic Fine Arts Center

The mid-century modern building designed by Edward Durell Stone has been revitalized to preserve its legacy and inspire future artists.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:36pm

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The University of Arkansas has completed a major restoration project on its renowned Fine Arts Center, originally designed in 1951 by acclaimed architect Edward Durell Stone. The $25 million renovation, led by MBL Architecture and TenBerke, has preserved the building's modernist design while upgrading it for contemporary use by the university's School of Art. The project has restored the interconnected spaces, updated the concert hall, expanded the Fine Arts Library, and reinstalled the original Alexander Calder sculptures on the grounds.

Why it matters

The Fine Arts Center is one of the few remaining mid-century modern structures on the University of Arkansas campus, and its preservation is seen as crucial to maintaining the school's architectural legacy and providing an inspiring creative hub for students. The restoration project has revitalized the building's role as a crossroads for the arts on campus, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and showcasing the university's commitment to the arts.

The details

The restoration project focused on preserving the original design vision of the Fine Arts Center, which was divided into three functional blocks - a concert hall, classroom wing, and theater - connected by a transparent lobby and gallery space. The design team restored the lobby's flexible open layout, replaced windows to regain the original views, and refurbished the courtyard and sculpture garden. They also upgraded the concert hall with new seating, lighting, and an electronic-acoustic enhancement system. The Fine Arts Library was expanded, and graduate student offices were added to the classroom wing.

  • The Fine Arts Center was originally designed in 1951 by architect Edward Durell Stone.
  • The $25 million restoration project was completed in April 2026.
  • The renovated Fine Arts Center will officially reopen on April 16, 2026.

The players

MBL Architecture

A national design firm headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas, that led the restoration project in partnership with TenBerke.

TenBerke

A design firm that collaborated with MBL Architecture on the Fine Arts Center restoration.

Edward Durell Stone

The acclaimed architect who originally designed the University of Arkansas Fine Arts Center in 1951.

Rachel Debuque

The director of the University of Arkansas School of Art, which will be housed in the renovated Fine Arts Center.

Alexander Calder

The artist whose original sculptures have been reinstalled on the grounds of the Fine Arts Center as part of the restoration project.

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What they’re saying

“We are honored to collaborate with the University of Arkansas and TenBerke on such an important project in the heart of campus. The School of Art's vision for the Fine Arts Center advances the arts and sustains the legacy of Edward Durell Stone.”

— Roger Boskus, President of MBL Architecture

“Having grown up around the Fine Arts Center, it has been a privilege to work with the University of Arkansas to enhance the arts program and continue the modernist legacy of Edward Durell Stone.”

— Steven Jones, Architect at MBL Architecture

“The Fine Arts Center was conceived as a place where the arts could converge under one roof, and that exchange remains central to how we educate today. Our students and faculty collaborate across disciplines — from public art mural projects and research in the Arkansas prairies to immersive technologies developed with colleagues in the sciences. In this way, the School of Art advances the Fine Arts Center's vision: that the arts enrich academic journeys and strengthen Arkansas' cultural life.”

— Rachel Debuque, Director of the School of Art, University of Arkansas

“This has been a thrilling collaboration to help re-establish this visionary building as a welcoming and creative crossroads on campus. We are looking forward to all the teaching, research, and creativity that the transformed Fine Arts Center will inspire over its next 75 years.”

— Noah Biklen, Senior Principal, TenBerke

What’s next

The University of Arkansas will host a grand reopening celebration for the renovated Fine Arts Center on April 16, 2026, featuring performances, exhibitions, and community events to showcase the restored building and its renewed role as a hub for the arts on campus.

The takeaway

The restoration of the University of Arkansas Fine Arts Center, designed by the renowned architect Edward Durell Stone, preserves a significant piece of the school's architectural heritage while transforming the building into a modern, collaborative space that will inspire future generations of artists and scholars. This project demonstrates the university's commitment to the arts and its desire to honor the legacy of the original modernist design.