School's Design Inspired by Agriculture, Aviation and a Classic Car
Thaden School in Bentonville, Arkansas, celebrates the class of 2021 – the first to graduate from this new independent middle and high school. As the next academic year begins, returning students will be welcomed back to an expanded offering on its 30-acre campus. The three of the newest school buildings – "Reels," "Wheels" and the performing arts center – were designed by Marlon Blackwell Architects and feature architectural coil coatings by Sherwin-Williams.
The Reels and Wheels building exteriors are finished to match the iconic 1967 Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 sports car's green-gold metallic finish. Sherwin-Williams provided the custom metallic color in its Fluropon® SR coating system with solar-reflective pigments. The performing arts center also presents a dynamic Fluropon white-gold coating by Sherwin-Williams. The finished metal roof and exterior wall panel systems were manufactured by Morin Corp.
Thaden School is named in honor of Iris Louise McPhetridge Thaden (1905-1979), one of the greatest aviators of her time. Her childhood home in Bentonville was renovated and now serves as the school's office of admissions.