PEAK Innovation Center – Emerging Art + Design Labs

Overview

MAHG collaborated with Fort Smith Public Schools to design a new space for an emerging art program at the recently opened PEAK Innovation Center—home to a range of career-focused programs that bridge education and the workforce.

The design repurposed a previously unused 2,800-square-foot shell space at the building’s east end, taking advantage of existing infrastructure and generous natural light through large exterior windows and doors. Elements of the original facility—such as roof framing, ductwork, and piping—were intentionally left exposed, allowing the architecture itself to serve as a creative expression.

The new art program combines traditional hands-on activities with digital media. The renovation introduced two large studio spaces as the heart of the program, outfitted with work tables, ample storage, and a spacious computer lab to support coursework in graphic design and photography.