Elementary Class Tours Tower Designed By UA Architect

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - All year Jeannie Buckley's 5th grade students at Butterfield Elementary School have watched the construction of the nearby tower located just off Old Missouri Road. They've pondered it, drawn pictures of it and written stories about what they imagined it would be. On Monday, May 8th at 10 a.m, they'll get to tour it with University of Arkansas School of Architecture professor and architect Marlon Blackwell and the tower owner James Keenan.

The idea for the tower came from Keenan's own childhood during which he used to play in his grandfather's tree house. Blackwell took that idea and developed it into a distinctive observation tower. Blackwell has received numerous awards for his work, notably the regional AIA Honor Awards and selection by the Architectural League of New York as one of architecture's Emerging Voices, 1998.

The tour should last 30-45 minutes.

Directions: Take Rolling Hills to Old Missouri Road and make a right. Take the last left (a gravel drive) before you reach Old Wire. Follow the drive to the tower.

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Rebecca Wood, University Relations, (479) 575-5555

Karen Wing, School of Architecture, (479) 575-4704