French Cottons to Urban Projects

Harrison French Architecture may be on its way to becoming an urban legend.

The Bentonville architecture firm has grown its business 20 percent during the last six years, primarily due to its work for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. But Harrison French, the firm’s owner and a principal architect, said HFA is more than just a retail-design and remodeling shop.

The firm is focused on several urban projects it hopes will keep downtown Bentonville pedestrian friendly. French stressed that he’s not “anti-growth.” But by creating attractive living and working alternatives in his hometown’s most densely populated areas, HFA can help mitigate the kind of commercial sprawl that for the last decade has transformed Northwest Arkansas and fostered environmental controversy.

French has backed up that passion by building HFA’s early 20th Century-style corporate office at 809 SW “A” St. — near the Bentonville armory and county fairgrounds. It’s only a few blocks from the downtown square, and within two blocks of Wal-Mart’s home office. The firm has enough downtown lots to develop another 200,000 SF of office, retail or residential space.

That includes a $2.5 million, 28,000-SF office and residential facility at 206 SW “A” St., HFA is building just down from its headquarters. Business district work for Arkansas National Bank and Dr. Larry Rose’s commercial Regency Park on Walton Boulevard are also urban projects French has tackled.

“I’m not an ardent urbanist, who only believes in solely public transportation or anything like that,” French said. “But we want to try to provide options for good small-town urban planning in Bentonville. If we can take that concept to other areas, and if it helps reduce a little traffic along the way, then good.

“We just want to create some commercial buildings that aren’t entirely designed around the automobile.”

French, 42, declined to disclose the private company’s revenue. But he said HFA has grown from one employee at its 1990 inception to 43 today. And it’s licensed in 49 states, primarily to serve Wal-Mart.

The relationship would appear to put French at odds with his passion for urban revitalization. Wal-Mart, the world’s largest company, is often ridiculed by environmental groups for spreading its concrete parking lots and Supercenter facilities all over the Earth.

French said he sees no conflict, however, because Wal-Mart simply reacts to the needs of the consumer. He said the retailer is also involved in a number or urban projects, and that Wal-Mart works hard to be environmentally friendly.

“Harrison French has certainly done its share of strip malls, and I’m not even saying all sprawl is bad,” French said. “I get in my car and go to Wal-Mart a couple of times per week myself, and I don’t think there is any conflict in working with them and doing urban revitalization. We’re just putting a focus on giving people more options downtown.”

HFA has regional clients such as The Klein Group commercial development firm in Coldwater, Mich. Nazarene Church in Bentonville and Wellington Apartments in Rogers are examples of other local projects.

Dan Dykema, chairman of Arkansas National Bancshares Inc. in Bentonville, said most of HFA’s work is repeat business for a reason. Dykema said French treats his clients’ money as if it were his own.

“Harrison is conscience of maintaining cost controls and good lucks,” Dykema said. “We have had them do every one of our buildings because we think they deliver great value.”