Marlon Blackwell Architects is tackling Northwest Arkansas' housing crisis by blending innovative design with community-driven solutions and collaboration. Through 3D-printed duplexes in Rogers, they’re reshaping the housing landscape while preserving the region’s unique identity. As Northwest Arkansas continues its rapid expansion, the region faces a pressing challenge: how to provide enough homes to accommodate our growing population. By 2040, NWA will need 80,000 new homes for our community, with half of those dedicated to workforce earners who form the backbone of our community. This isn't just about numbers; it’s about the diverse housing needs of current and future residents and keeping the identity of the region intact during this growth.
Already in Northwest Arkansas, change is taking form in multifaceted approaches that include community engagement, policy changes, and investments into developing more types of affordable housing options. But there’s another layer to this conversation that’s just as critical— approaching the housing crisis through the lens of design. Architects and designers in the region are innovating to create solutions that reflect our unique context, and one standout example is Marlon Blackwell Architects (MBA), who collaborated with Groundwork to design 3D-printed duplexes in Rogers, Arkansas. These innovative and affordable homes represent a significant advancement in the housing landscape and challenge conventional notions of what affordable, quality living can look like in a rapidly evolving community.
Known for their thoughtful design philosophy and distinctive architectural style, MBA’s work has established a strong sense of place and identity in the region. Their impressive portfolio features projects like the University of Arkansas Steven L. Anderson Design Center, the Thaden School, and Bentonville's Ledger City. This commitment to excellence and community engagement laid the foundation for their collaboration with Groundwork, aiming to address the pressing housing needs of the area through pioneering solutions.
Groundwork’s strong community connections have been instrumental in shaping the 3D-printed duplex project. Katherine Lashley, an MBA project architect, explains that these connections provided MBA with insights into community needs, allowing them to "inform project decisions" in ways that go beyond physical restraints.
This collaboration with MBA also brings both challenges and new opportunities. Josh Matthews, a senior project manager and architect at MBA, describes the partnership as unique on multiple fronts. What began as a traditional client-designer relationship evolved into an incredibly collaborative effort to activate previously untapped industries in the NWA region and to develop a new labor pool for the project. As these challenges emerged, Matthews explains, “it became far more interactive and collaborative with the Groundwork team,” with both parties actively working on the front lines to develop solutions—not only for this project but for future developments as well.
Looking ahead, designers and creative professionals recognize that solving the housing crisis demands innovative, adaptable approaches. 3D-printing technology, for example, is poised to reshape affordable housing. Bringing similar technology to Northwest Arkansas—where it has yet to be developed—introduces both significant challenges and an array of new opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened labor and material shortages, challenging the norms of traditional home construction. However, the rise of 3D-printed technology offers architects a new path for affordable, durable housing, positioning Northwest Arkansas as a model for innovative, community-focused housing solutions.
Yet, as these advanced projects emerge, they may face community resistance. Matthews stresses the need for architects, policymakers, and community organizations to adopt an inclusive approach to address potential NIMBY concerns. Understanding residents' fears of imposed projects, Matthews and Lashley—both long-time NWA locals—emphasize the importance of visible, community-centered efforts like surveys and data collection to build trust. By aligning design decisions with local needs, architects can demonstrate that community input has guided each step, fostering stronger support.
MBA seeks to address community concerns through thoughtful, responsive designs that make meaningful architecture accessible in unexpected places. MBA’s mission to “use an economy of means to deliver a maximum of meaning” shaped their approach to designing 3D-printed homes. Matthews highlights the need to balance innovation with respect for the local construction landscape, while Lashley emphasizes that good design should be accessible to all. MBAhas invested in aligning 3D-printing technology with regional architecture, drawing inspiration from agricultural silos to incorporate curves and double-height volumes. Their approach to regionalism translates “unique moments, spaces, and experiences” valued by the community into their designs, fostering a strong sense of local identity and connection.
However, both Lashley and Matthews recognize that a design-first approach alone is not enough to solve the housing crisis. Restrictive zoning and policy frameworks make it challenging for architects to innovate and use design as a vehicle for change. Allowing more flexibility in housing types, density, and even parking requirements would “allow designers in the region to more quickly respond” to the housing crisis, they believe. Matthews notes that “policy and perception” are the largest hurdles, emphasizing that “policy has to start changing.” From an economic standpoint, he questions the cost of continually expanding infrastructure to accommodate sprawl, proposing instead that funds be redirected toward building livable, sustainable communities that honor the area’s unique character and treasured green spaces while supporting a long-term vision for growth.
For both Lashley and Matthews, policy reform is the “lowest common denominator” in tackling the housing crisis. They are encouraged by recent zoning changes in Rogers and the proactive steps other cities are taking. With policies that prioritize sustainable, community-centered design, Lashley and Matthews believe NWA can not only address its current housing challenges but also create a model for resilient growth that strengthens community identity.
Ultimately, the architects from Marlon Blackwell Architects believe that Northwest Arkansas has an opportunity to become a model for innovative, community-centered growth. By blending forward-thinking design with responsive policies, NWA can address the immediate housing crisis and foster a landscape where people feel a true sense of ownership and identity. As 3D-printed homes and other developments take root, they have the potential to ripple through the region, reinforcing a future that respects both community identity and the changing needs of a dynamic population.
Written by: Sydney Winkler