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The Ledger’s concept emerged from Bentonville’s cycling culture and a desire to extend the public realm vertically. Inspired by the idea of biking up a building, the design team developed a continuous ramp system that climbs the east façade, shaping a massing strategy that invites public engagement. Copper and glass trace the building’s contours, while generous terraces and transparent offices blur public and private space. The project redefines the workplace as an active civic landscape—an intersection of movement, community, and commerce that reflects Bentonville’s evolving identity.
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Ledger establishes a fluid and reciprocal relationship with both the fabric of downtown Bentonville and the surrounding landscape. Rather than standing apart, it extends the city’s pedestrian and cycling networks vertically, transforming its east façade into a six-story continuation of the sidewalk. This gesture invites the public to ascend the building via bike or foot, creating a new kind of civic topography that connects Main Street to rooftop views of the Ozarks. The building’s copper cladding echoes the warm tones of nearby historic structures, while its terraces and transparent storefronts foster permeability between interior and exterior life. In this way, the Ledger becomes not just a workplace, but a vertical neighborhood—an active interface between city, community, and landscape.
Ledger embraces sustainability through design strategies that prioritize long-term performance, wellness, and ecological integration. Its copper and glass envelope balances durability with energy efficiency, using continuous perimeter glazing to reduce reliance on artificial lighting. A compact core ensures spatial flexibility, while shaded terraces and north-facing rooftops extend comfortable outdoor use. Most impactful, however, is Ledger’s integration with Bentonville’s trail network—redefining commute patterns and dramatically lowering energy tied to transportation. Together, these elements support a vibrant, low-impact civic workplace.
Ledger is a 230,000-square-foot mixed-use office building in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas, redefining workplace culture by weaving together retail, dining, events, and cycling into a continuous urban experience. Its defining feature—a six-story bikeable ramp along Main Street—transforms the act of arriving to work into a civic gesture, linking the sidewalk to rooftop terraces with views over the downtown square. The design blurs public and private realms, making movement and visibility key themes throughout. Copper and glass form a durable, expressive material palette, with a patina that traces the building’s terraced silhouette. Inside, ‘white box’ office spaces are framed by collaborative zones finished in polished concrete, reflective ceilings, and white oak-framed glass. Common areas spill across levels, fostering spontaneous interaction. Designed with restraint and generosity, Ledger offers a “work hard, play hard” environment rooted in Bentonville’s cycling ethos and civic spirit.
The client, Center City, LLC, sees Ledger as a transformative civic hub that meets Bentonville’s need for flexible, modern workplaces while fostering community engagement. They highlight its environmentally responsive design, integration with nature, and emphasis on user well-being. Most importantly, they view Ledger as a glimpse into the future—where buildings, people, and the environment are seamlessly interwoven.
The design team of Michel Rojkind, Callaghan Horiuchi, and Marlon Blackwell Architects brought together distinct yet complementary strengths as equal partners in the design of the Ledger in Bentonville, Arkansas. Mexico City–based Michel Rojkind contributed a global design sensibility rooted in innovation and urban dynamism. Callaghan Horiuchi, led by Christian Callaghan and Haruka Horiuchi, offered a human-centered approach shaped by technical rigor and cognitive science, with a passion for getting things built and adapting architecture to real-world use. Based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Marlon Blackwell Architects is known for award-winning, contextually rich designs that challenge conventional models and demonstrate that architecture can happen anywhere, at any scale, for anyone. Together, the trio formed a deeply integrated, interdisciplinary design team that prioritized design excellence, a sophisticated approach to public space, and formal experimentation.
