After three years of brainstorming, planning and construction, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has completed a multi-million-dollar campus project.
On Tuesday, UA Little Rock celebrated the achievement with a dedication ceremony highlighting the new Trojan Way project.
“Improvements in the living and learning environments are important because they have the potential to create engaging spaces that support student wellbeing,” said UA Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale.
When starting the Trojan Way project, the goal was to create a welcoming outdoor learning environment in the heart of campus outside Ottenheimer Library. To expand on the project, improving high traffic campus walkways was added to the list.
Drale said prior to renovations, “the outdoor space on campus definitely needed some TLC.”
The project began construction on the Library Plaza in October 2022 in the middle of the fall semester. For the next two years, the campus would be under renovation, resulting in university occupants having to check the updated construction maps on the current safe pathways.
Rachel Eells, Windgate Foundation Director of the School of Education at UA Little Rock, works at the school year-round. She says that although the construction made navigating campus challenging, the result was worth it.
“It’s been wonderful seeing more and more unveiling of it each day,” Eells said. “It really makes it a welcoming center.”
Gone are the uneven bricks, and in its place are smooth stone walkways that provide a modern curve appeal to the central part of the university’s campus. Bright green foliage guides students along the walkway to the focus of the renovation, Library Plaza. The new outdoor gathering spot is a spacious seating area designed with students in mind, providing many options for group studying and relaxation.
Trojan Way was funded by a $5.5 million grant from the Donaghey Foundation. The foundation does not typically contribute to renovation projects, focusing their efforts into covering students' tuition through the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program.
Donaghey Foundation President Greg Flesher announced at the ceremony that the driving factor in their contribution was “How will this benefit the students?”
Thinking back to the inspiration of Trojan Way, Drale said “I noted that this spot [Library Plaza] should be the heart of the campus.”
Bringing that inspiration to life, Eells says the new heart of campus is now a destination instead of a place to pass from one space to another. “It is now a pleasant place to be.”
