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Restoration of Historic Martin Hall Earns Accolades

Meticulous work on Hendrix College’s 1918 dormitory recognized by Preserve Arkansas, Learning By Design

CONWAY, Arkansas (December 15, 2023)—The renovation of Hendrix College’s historic Martin Hall, planned by WER Architects and completed in 2022, has garnered honors at both the state and national levels. 

Leaders from Hendrix College and WER Architects gathered on December 12 to celebrate the state and national honors that recent residence hall renovation projects have received. From left: Greer Veon, Hendrix College Director of Residential Life; Ellis Arnold, President Emeritus of the College; John Greer, Principal, WER Architects; and Karen Petersen, President of the College.Preserve Arkansas has announced it will honor WER Architects, Nabholz Construction, and Hendrix College with an Excellence in Preservation through Rehabilitation Award for their collaboration on restoring Martin Hall, the oldest dormitory on the Hendrix College campus.

Built in 1918 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Martin Hall has housed numerous community, state, and national leaders during their undergraduate years, including Hendrix College President Emeritus Ellis Arnold ’79, who led the College during its renovation process.

The 2023 Arkansas Preservation Awards will be celebrated on January 26, 2024, at Robinson Center in Little Rock.

In addition to this statewide recognition, the larger project received an Outstanding Project Award in Learning By Design Magazine’s Fall 2023 Educational Facilities Awards Showcase. The tandem top-to-bottom renovations for both Martin and Veasey Halls provided upgrades to benefit a collective 207 residents.

Jury comments about the project included, “…the common spaces are well done and organized in a manner to support the sense of community needed in a dorm today.”

“Martin Hall is a project that our entire team is incredibly proud to be a part of,” said John Greer, Principal, WER Architect. “To be able to share this project on a national level makes it just that much more exciting!”

About Hendrix College

Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts colleges for academic quality, engaged learning opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.   

“… Through engagement that links the classroom with the world, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice, and sustainable living, the Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.” —Hendrix College Statement of Purpose 

About WER

We believe quality architecture helps create a better world. This philosophy has been a driving force behind the work of WER Architects from the start. A start that began in Little Rock in 1978. Today, WER is one of the state’s most recognized architectural firms with offices in Little Rock and Fayetteville. Its portfolio of high profile projects includes the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Windgate Center for Art + Design, Historic Cane Hill College Restoration, University of Arkansas Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences, Jacksonville North Pulaski County School District, University of Arkansas J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Baseball Development Center, Premier Medical Plaza, Delta Dental of Arkansas Corporate Campus, Richard Sheppard Arnold United States Courthouse and numerous high profile higher education and K-12 projects across the state. For more information on WER Architects and to view its full portfolio visit werarch.com.