J.B. Hunt opens training and technology center in Lowell

Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. recently opened a 132,883-square-foot Training and Technology Center.

J.B. Hunt in late 2017 started construction on the four-story center, a stand-alone building about a half-mile east of the company’s corporate office building. The center at 215 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive in Lowell has room for more than 1,000 occupants, including employees in training, information technology and technology support. Miller Boskus Lack Architects of Fayetteville designed the center. The architect also designed the 144,000-square-foot office tower the carrier opened in July 2017. Like the office tower, the center was designed to meet the energy-efficiency specifications for LEED Silver certification.

Nabholz Construction Corp. of Rogers was the general contractor on the project. The city of Lowell on Dec. 13, 2017, provided Nabholz with a building permit valued at $21.51 million. Other companies that were involved in the project include landscape architect Olin of Philadelphia, HSA Engineering Consulting Services of Fort Smith, CEI Engineering Associates Inc. of Bentonville, Robbins Engineering Consultants of Little Rock and Mountain Mechanical Contractors Inc. of Fayetteville.

Arkansas Department of Transportation recently broke ground on the $4.7 million extension of Dixieland Road, which will run along the west side of the Training and Technology Center. The groundbreaking ceremony was hosted in the parking lot of the new center. Dixieland Road will be extended from where it ends south of Arkansas Highway 264 to Apple Blossom Road. The road project is expected to be completed in mid-2020 and provide for an alternate route to Interstate 49 and relieve congestion for businesses, including J.B. Hunt. When the extension is completed, Dixieland Road will run nearly 10 miles from Little Flock to Springdale.

J.B. Hunt could not be reached for comment regarding its new building.