bank charette

pb2 was invited, as one of several firms, to provide conceptual design sketches for a new bank branch building. This was offered firm wide and five designers provided their interpretation of the criteria. Each design creatively engaged with the arts district and surrounding community, utilizing a variety of natural materials and cleverly playing with light.

Criteria: Design a building between 7k-12k square feet, two story, include at least one drive thru, and built on the street with very limited setbacks to create an urban environment. Use natural elements and natural light to comply with the theme of the Arts District. Positioned at the gateway of the Arts District, the building will include spaces for displaying art and intended to act as an integral element of the art community.

little free library design competition

pb2 recently participated in the Little Free Library Design Competition, “a community outreach literacy initiative” presented by The Ozark Literacy Council, NWA AIA and the Fay Jones School of Architecture. “Little Free Libraries are part of a worldwide movement that offer free books housed in small containers to members of the local community. Utilizing their “take a book, return a book” approach, these libraries act as gathering sites where neighbors and visitors share their favorite literature and stories. They strengthen community and foster discovery, curiosity, and a love of reading for all ages.”

Competition brief: “design a buildable Little Free Library that will be installed in Northwest Arkansas. Each library must be a maximum of 24″wx18″dx60″h, for ease of transportation the installation and mounting can be part of the design. Consideration will be given to the use of affordable, recycled, salvaged and found materials. Use green building techniques whenever possible.”

pb2 designers teamed up to create a playful concept to meet the design criteria, Feed it, Read it. The design team created a series of colorful monsters who engage children as they “feed” the monsters and “take/steal” food (books) from the monsters mouths. Local elementary students were asked to draw monsters that would be used to create the individual library kiosks. By engaging local children to help develop the monsters, it is intended to encourage them to stay connected to their monster by utilizing it as a reading hub.

walmart on campus

At 3,500 square feet, this is one of the smallest Walmart stores in the world. It has a full-service pharmacy and general merchandise and is roughly 2% the size of an average Walmart Supercenter. It is located in a new retail center at the University of Arkansas. This is the first retail center for the University that has national stores with name brand merchandise on campus.

pb2’s’ role was to provide input on design decisions, produce documents for construction, construction administration and act as liaison between the University and Walmart through construction.

• Understand the context of the existing building (University LEED building, bookstore, parking garage, walking distance for students, bus stop in front)
• Understand and deliver the client needs and incorporate them into the University culture.
• Understand the existing buildings materials and methods

• Full size pharmacy in 3500 SF Walmart store;
• Work within U of A design guidelines (must keep the overall look of the existing building intact). – Could not alter the exterior. Could not build in the front windows;
• Coordinate all underground piping with Geofoam Fill (all plumbing in the front half of the store);
• Post tension slab above for parking garage (minimal impact to slab to cause no harm);
• Design HVAC to work with the existing HVAC fresh air supply;

• Space is located within an existing LEED Silver building;
• Located in a densely populated area (promotes walking or riding bikes for students); adjacent and accessible to bus route;
• Maximized the use of natural light from front windows;
• Used recycled material where possible.

Examples of Recycled Materials