Windgate Art & Design Building Expansion
Our creative home is growing. Be part of what鈥檚 next.
Opening Fall 2026
Since its opening in 2015, the Windgate Art & Design Building has been the heart of the visual arts at the 91调教鈥揊ort Smith. Its 57,000 square feet of light-filled studios, classrooms, and galleries have shaped the journeys of hundreds of artists and designers.
Turning a new page with fresh spaces for book arts, sculpture, ceramics, digital fabrication, art collection study and public collaboration.
Building Momentum
Clark Contractors is hard at work making this vision a reality. The construction may change the look of the building for now, but behind the scaffolding, a new chapter of creativity is being written.
Book Arts Center
The expansion鈥檚 cornerstone is the new Book Arts Center, featuring specialized spaces for letterpress, papermaking, and bookbinding. These craft-rich disciplines will sit alongside new digital fabrication, woodshop, and ceramics studios, ensuring that hands-on learning remains at the forefront.
Shared Spaces
The building will open its doors wider to the public鈥攚ith outdoor terraces, a public coffee shop, and shared spaces that will build a stronger connection between the campus and community. This expansion will benefit students, faculty, and the community through professional excellence, preparation, and engagement.
Expansion Size
Nearly 19,000 new and renovated square feet
Contractor/Architect
Clark Contractors /
MAHG Architecture
Completion Date
FALL 2026
Key Construction Milestones
New Parking Lot Entrance/Vestibule and public signage space Main Expansion (Book Arts, Cafe, Woodshop, Faculty Studios, Outdoor Terrace/Classroom) Exterior Structure
Collection Storage and Collection Study Room Complete
Main Expansion is fully done and move-in ready: Book Arts Center, Woodshop, Cafe, Faculty Studios, Outdoor Terrace/Classroom
Demolition and Renovations begin: Repurposing current Book Arts to become Ceramics and Digital Fabrication, and current Faculty Offices to become more Digital Fabrication
IT鈥橲 ALL DONE!
Moved in, Public Opening of all spaces!
Expansion Gallery
Click each image to view more detail. Renderings created by MAHG Architecture.
Windgate Gift to Expand Arts and Arts Education
An $8.8 million gift by the Windgate Foundation to the Art and Design department promises a physical expansion of 91调教鈥檚 iconic arts building and increased class offerings. Both will encourage greater involvement in the arts by students and the public.
Where it all Started
鈥淭his gift empowers the university to tend to the human needs of every member of our community,鈥� said Katie Waugh, head of Art and Design at 91调教. 鈥淐ultivating overall wellness is crucial for nurturing a functioning society and arts environment.鈥�