Whole Health Institute will be launching construction on a new facility in Bentonville in the upcoming year.
Announced in January 2020, Whole Health Institute is the brainchild of Walmart scion Alice Walton. Whole Health Institute is a nonprofit that is focused on taking a “transformative approach to health and wellbeing,” according to a news release.
“We need to train young doctors in whole health and integrative approaches, we need to work with employers to help them understand how we can create healthier employees, which contributes to a healthier bottom line,” Walton said during the announcement of the institute.
The new facility will be located on the grounds of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a partner organization to Whole Health Institute. The 75,000 square-foot multi-use facility will feature space for interactive programs and an area for up to 800 individuals. It will also feature offices for the Whole Health Institute and Art Bridges.
“Crystal Bridges and Whole Health Institute are partner organizations with an aligned vision of enriching lives,” Rod Bigelow, Crystal Bridges executive director and chief diversity and inclusion officer, said in a statement. “We are excited to welcome them to the neighborhood and look forward to exploring the intersection of art, nature, and wellbeing through programs, conversations, and collaborations.”
Marlon Blackwell Architects designed the space, and construction is expected to break ground in spring 2021. The estimated completion date for the project is 2023.
“Earlier this year, we announced the Whole Health Institute with our mission to give everyone access to a transformative approach to health,” said Tracy Gaudet, executive director of Whole Health Institute. “As our newly formed institution continues to develop, the location on Crystal Bridges’ campus and the design of this building provide an ideal setting for interactive programs that will welcome the community to take charge of their health and well-being surrounded by nature and inspiring works of art.”