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Designing with Empathy at the UAMS Health Orthopaedics & Sports Performance Center
| At the intersection of innovation and infrastructure, a transformative project is taking shape in Northwest Arkansas: a world-class orthopedic and sports performance surgical center for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). More than just another health care facility, this project promises to be a beacon of cutting-edge design, precision construction and community impact.
The design and construction teams behind this innovative facility worked to challenge conventional norms to collaboratively create a space that feels more like a home or wellness retreat than a sterile clinic.
A Place in the Meadow: Letting Nature Lead
The design of the UAMS Health Orthopaedics & Sports Performance Center takes full advantage of a serene 30-acre site off Interstate 49 in Springdale that is graced with meadows and a seasonal stream, inspiring a low-slung, one-and-a-half-story building that nestles into the natural topography rather than dominating it.
“We didn’t want it to be a five-story block of cheese sitting in a field,” joked Marlon Blackwell, founding partner and design director at Marlon Blackwell Architects. “We wanted something that felt grounded — something that belonged.”
This respect for the land translated into a design that emphasizes connection with nature. The landscape design was led by Dallas-based landscape architect, Coy Talley, who grew up in Springdale. Floor plans were aligned to maximize views of the landscape, while a courtyard and long window walls flood the interior with calming natural light. Whether you’re a patient recovering from surgery or a nurse beginning a long shift, you’re never far from the restorative presence of the outdoors.
A defining philosophy of the project was the intentional shift to focus on “hospitality.” The design borrows from the comfort of home and the sensibilities of high-end hospitality design to reduce anxiety and foster emotional wellness.
Gone are the cold grays and single-color themes typical of institutional spaces. Instead, the architects embraced warm, tactile materials, varied textures and nature-inspired colors to make the space feel welcoming and alive.
“We wanted to avoid that corporate, numbing feeling,” said Meryati Johari Blackwell, principal partner, creative director and director of interiors at the architectural firm. “We want people to feel cared for from the moment they walk in.”
Public spaces evoke the feel of a boutique hotel — strategically lit, aesthetically rich and spatially generous — creating not just comfort but dignity.
Light, Layout and the Human Experience
Natural light isn’t a luxury here — it’s a priority. Every patient room, waiting area, nurse station and even the operating rooms were designed to have access to daylight and landscape views.
This decision wasn’t purely aesthetic. As the architects explained, studies consistently show that connection to nature improves recovery, reduces stress and increases staff productivity. One particularly poignant design moment involved giving surgeons a view to the outside during long procedures — so they can briefly refocus by gazing at the snowfall or a sunlit meadow.
“When a surgeon said, ‘Sometimes I just want to look up and see the weather,’ we made that a priority,” Marlon Blackwell said. “That moment of peace makes them better at their job.”
This project also avoids the all-too-common trade-off between function and beauty. In fact, the aesthetic choices are functional.
The central courtyard, for instance, is more than a pretty garden. It serves as a visual anchor for patients, aiding wayfinding in a building where staff and patient flows are purposefully separated. A courtyard and strategically placed windows ensure that patients never feel lost or isolated — they always know where they are in relation to the outdoors.
Even ceiling heights vary throughout, creating a sense of rhythm and spatial diversity that subconsciously guides and comforts.
One of the most striking aspects of the project is the deep collaboration with users — patients, doctors, nurses and therapists. Every decision was informed by their lived experiences.
“This wasn’t about handing them a plan and asking for approval,” Meryati Johari Blackwell emphasized. “It was about dialogue — iterative and participatory.”
From how a surgeon navigates a long shift to where a therapist might take a moment of respite, every detail was fine-tuned with day-to-day realities in mind. Equipment was integrated into spaces with care, ensuring usability without compromising aesthetics.
Exterior materials were selected not just for durability but also for warmth. The building uses oversized, subtly iridescent brick that harmonizes with the surrounding meadow grasses. This brick, combined with taut metal panels with a soft luster, gives the building a grounded, timeless quality that avoids the slick sterility of many modern clinics.
Inside, curved corners reduce injury and wear, while layered textures and home-like finishes quietly reinforce the building’s mission: to care deeply for everyone inside, whether they’re healing or helping.
A Blueprint for Better Health Care Spaces
Ultimately, the UAMS Health Orthopaedics & Sports Performance Center is more than a building — it’s a model for human-centered health care design. It’s a space that recognizes healing as a holistic process, one where design can ease anxiety, encourage movement, support caregivers and foster joy.
“At the end of the day,” Marlon Blackwell said, “we want you to feel good here — whether you’re working, recovering or visiting. And sometimes, all it takes is a sense of welcome, a little light and a view.”
With empathy as its foundation and nature as its guide, this project is redefining what health care environments can be — and how deeply they can care.
Leading the charge on the construction side is Chris Abbott, a seasoned senior project manager with Nabholz Construction, who brings nearly two decades of experience and an unshakable passion for building things that matter.
Abbott’s latest endeavor with Nabholz is nothing short of ambitious. The project isn’t just a construction job — it’s a multiphase, multifaceted undertaking that will bring advanced orthopedic care and sports performance facilities to the region.
“This isn’t your standard hospital project,” Abbott said. “There’s a lot of unique design elements. It’s intended to be iconic, world-class — the first of its kind in Arkansas.”
From the start, the Nabholz team knew that staffing would be a critical factor. Constructing a medical facility requires a deep understanding of health care infrastructure, coordination with medical staff and rigorous attention to safety, especially when working within or adjacent to an operational medical campus.
“A big part of my day is making sure our team has what they need to keep moving forward,” Abbott said. “We’re balancing the expectations of UAMS, the architect, the subcontractors — it’s a lot of plates to spin.”
A Partnership in Design
Nabholz isn’t working in isolation. Marlon Blackwell’s team — known for their award-winning, high-design structures — remains deeply involved throughout the build. Abbott describes this relationship as highly collaborative, with both sides committed to making the ambitious design a reality.
“There’s a lot of back and forth — submittals, RFIs (requests for information) and quality reviews,” he explains. “They’re engaged from now until we hand over the keys.”
One of the project’s most powerful tools is Building Information Modeling (BIM), a 3D digital representation of the entire facility. The model allows Abbott’s team to walk through the building virtually, resolving issues before they become real-world problems.
“We’re identifying potential clashes — like ductwork overlapping with steel beams — and solving them in the model first,” Abbott said. “It’s an essential part of the process on a job like this.”
Even with precise planning, construction never goes exactly as expected. But for Abbott, every challenge is simply “an opportunity.”
“We know unexpected things are going to happen,” he said. “Our job is to adapt, to work closely with the design team and owner, and to find the best possible solution.”
That mindset is essential on a project as complex as this one, where timelines, budgets and design aspirations must align — all while coordinating dozens of subcontractors and navigating supply chain challenges.
The Road Ahead
In June, Nabholz began mobilizing on the 22-acre site, with job trailers arriving and earthwork approvals underway. Construction of the main facility begins in earnest this month, kicking off an ambitious 22-month schedule.
“We’re trying to beat the weather,” Abbott said. “If we can get the site and concrete work done before late fall, we’ll be in a great position to keep moving through the winter.”
What makes this project truly special, Abbott says, is its potential impact — not just as a piece of architecture, but as a resource for the community.
And for those dreaming big — like Wes Cox, section head of the UAMS Health Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine program in Northwest Arkansas — this facility represents a vision brought to life.
“From concept to construction, we’ve always been focused first and foremost on what’s best for our patients,” Cox said. “This facility will stand as a testament to what’s possible when innovation, experience and passion come together to build something truly unique.
“In an era where health care architecture often feels impersonal and institutional, this cutting-edge project is setting a precedent — merging thoughtful design with the nuances of patient, staff and visitor experience,” he added. “The project’s vision is rooted in a simple, yet profound idea: medical facilities should heal not just the body, but the mind and spirit as well.”