18, 20, & 22 E CENTER ST

18, 20, and 22 E. Center Street renew some of the few remaining nineteenth-century brick mercantile buildings in Fayetteville, extending their working life while restoring their role as active, street-defining storefronts. Center Street is one of Arkansas’ signature streets. It frames an iconic view of the Old Courthouse at the end of the block and forms the primary gateway into the Historic Downtown Square, so the project carries both architectural and civic weight.

The buildings sit in the historic “Smoky Row” corridor, where commerce, industry, and everyday life once mixed tightly along the edge of downtown. This renovation respects that layered history while re-establishing the original, time-tested pattern of occupancy: residential above commercial, with an active ground floor that supports walkability and local business.

Blockwright  navigated a complex overlap of current code, historic requirements, and zoning to return the buildings to compliant mixed-use occupancy without sacrificing character. The design reintroduces the historic pattern of colonnades that once lined the façades, shading meticulously restored leaded-glass transom windows above the storefront from the southern sun. A visually permeable storefront system incorporates deep, open vestibules, giving the sidewalk depth and interest while creating new spatial experiences along the street edge. The buildings are scheduled for completion in 2026.