Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art’s Post

Today, Heartland Whole Health Institute announced that it will open to the public on May 1, welcoming members of the media and the community to explore this 85,000-square-foot structure that brings together architecture, art, nature, education, and wellness offerings on the 134-acre Crystal Bridges Campus. Designed by Marlon Blackwell Architects, the Institute building is inspired by the natural landscape of the Ozarks and features curvilinear forms that respond to the sense of place of the museum’s campus. Heartland Whole Health Institute, founded in 2019 by philanthropist Alice Walton, works with the health care industry in developing a whole-health approach that considers the needs of the whole person with the goal of preventing disease, improving health outcomes, and sustaining wellness. “This building embodies the key elements of whole health – integrating our physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being,” says Walton. “It’s surrounded by nature, with trails that invite exploration, and is designed to bring people together to learn, engage, and connect. Marlon Blackwell Architects has created a landmark building that will welcome our community and beyond, enhancing the experience of visiting the Crystal Bridges Campus.” “Designed from the inside out and the outside in, Heartland Whole Health Institute is both a platform for and physical realization of the Institute’s mission to move health beyond illness treatment and into wholistic well-being,” said Ati and Marlon Blackwell, founding Partners of Marlon Blackwell Architects. “Its spaces, materials, and forms, drawn from the site’s karst topography and Ozark forests, enhance the connection to nature and place, and create an atmosphere to nurture the whole self.”