Champions Hall, Newest Classroom Building on Campus, Officially Open

Champions Hall

Guests tour Champions Hall following dedication

Class is in session at Champions Hall

The Shapes Project by Allan McCollum

Where I Come From Is Good Memories #3 by Lenore Thomas

Crystal Meteorite Shower, 2015 by Carson Fox

Photo by Matt Reynolds

Champions Hall

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — University of Arkansas academic and athletic leaders together dedicated Champions Hall, the first new classroom building on campus since 2007, in a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The 62,000-square-foot structure cost $26.5 million to build and equip. A significant amount of the funding was made possible by the U of A Athletics Department, which committed a portion of the university's annual share of Southeastern Conference revenues to the project. Those funds will be used to pay off approximately $18 million in bonds that were issued to build the Champions Hall.

“Our growing student population here at the University of Arkansas made a new building for classrooms absolutely essential,” said interim Chancellor Dan Ferritor. “But every new building on campus presents a funding challenge, and it was the support of the Athletics Department that made this building possible. That’s why it’s named Champions Hall — to honor our athletic champions and the ways our athletics department gives back to this university.”

The four-story building houses nine general purpose classrooms, 12 biology labs, and the Math Resource and Teaching Center. The center includes a testing center, office space for many of the math teaching faculty and a teaching center where students can study and get help with mathematics. Nearly all U of A undergraduates are required to take introductory math and biology classes to meet core curriculum requirements. An estimated 8,000 students will take math classes in Champions Hall this semester, with another 3,000 students using the biology labs. An additional 2,700 students will use the general purpose classrooms.

“Each day I am fortunate to get to see first-hand how intercollegiate athletics can positively impact the lives of our students and strengthen our university,” said Jeff Long, vice chancellor and director of athletics. “Today, we can see that in Champions Hall, a true emblem of the mission we focus on every day – to develop students to their fullest potential through intercollegiate athletics.” 

In addition to the classroom, lab and office space, Champions Hall is also the site of an impressive display of public art, selected by the university’s Public Art Advisory Committee, with the help of Marc Mitchell, assistant professor of art.

The artwork includes two pieces by Seattle artist Allison Kudla on the first floor, which were purchased specifically for Champions Hall. The university also commissioned three works by the artist Lenore Thomas, who teaches at the University of Pittsburgh. These are displayed on the second floor.

The sculptures Crystal Meteorite Shower hang above the lobby on the third floor. These were also commissioned by the U of A and created by Carson Fox, who lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

There are 18 embroidered shapes on cotton fabric that can be found on the fourth floor, part of New York City-based artist Allan McCollum’s Shapes Project.

Two pieces by New York City conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas are exhibited in the fourth-floor atrium.

“This building is literally an intersection of the arts and sciences,” said Todd Shields, dean of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “Thousands of U of A students will take biological sciences and mathematical sciences classes within these walls. And as they walk to class or study in the common areas, they’ll be given the opportunity to experience visual art throughout this facility that explores themes in natural science, identity and culture, echoing lessons learned in their classes.”

Champions Hall, at the intersection of Duncan Avenue and Dickson Street, hosted its first biology labs during the second session this summer. The building was designed by the Fayetteville firm of Miller Boskus Lack Architects with the SmithGroupJJR of Phoenix, Arizona. The contractor for the project was Nabholz Construction Services.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.