Together We Fly

In Bentonville, Arkansas, there is a school where learning is more than an academic exercise. It is a journey. A school where curiosity, creativity, and personal growth are encouraged every day, and where students are challenged to cultivate a lifelong love of learning. Since opening in 2017, Thaden School has grown from a small student body into a thriving educational community serving grades K-12, with a commitment to preparing the next generation of thinkers, builders, creators, and leaders.

As the campus continues to expand alongside its students, every addition must do more than serve a function. It must help tell the story of who Thaden is. That opportunity arrived with the construction of the school's new athletic facility, a 1,000-seat gymnasium created to give the Barnstormers’ basketball and volleyball programs a place to call home. Rather than settling for a conventional entrance canopy, the project team embraced something far more meaningful. They created a structure that would pay tribute to the school's mascot, celebrate its identity, and inspire students each time they walked beneath it. The result is a stunning steel awning inspired by the wing of a Barn Owl. From a distance, the structure appears almost alive. The sweeping curves, layered members, and graceful geometry evoke the unmistakable image of a bird in flight. The symbolism could not be more fitting. For centuries, owls have represented wisdom, knowledge, vision, and the ability to navigate uncertainty. They see what others cannot. They adapt to changing environments. They remain patient when patience is required and decisive when opportunity presents itself. Many of the same qualities that have made the owl a universal symbol of wisdom are the very qualities educators hope to instill in their students. The decorative canopy serves as a daily reminder of those ideals. The wing stretching overhead encourages students to fly, pursue, learn, adapt, and overcome as they make their way into the athletic environment. It reinforces the school's identity as the Barnstormers while embodying the spirit captured by their motto: Together We Fly. Naturally, a structure intended to symbolize growth, resilience, and lifelong learning demanded a preservation system equally focused on the future. Fabricated by NWA Steel and erected by Kinco Constructors, the owl-wing canopy was specified to be protected by hot-dip galvanizing in accordance with ASTM A123. While visitors may immediately recognize the structure's artistic qualities, they may not realize that one of its most important features lies beneath its signature blue finish. Hot-dip galvanizing remains the gold standard for protecting structural steel from corrosion. By metallurgically bonding zinc to the steel surface, the galvanizing process creates a protective coating that becomes part of the steel itself. The resulting finish protects corners, edges, welds, and difficult-to-access areas with the same level of durability as exposed surfaces, delivering decades of corrosion resistance with minimal maintenance requirements. Interestingly, the decision to galvanize parallels the educational philosophy of the school itself. Education is often viewed as an investment in a student's future. Lessons learned today provide protection against challenges faced tomorrow. The same principle applies here. Hot-dip galvanizing is not merely protecting steel. It is protecting an investment made by the school, its supporters, and its community. It ensures the structure can continue serving students long after the current generation of Barnstormers has graduated. In many ways, "lifelong learning" and "long-term durability" originate from the same philosophy: think ahead. NWA Steel President Wes Taylor and his team understood early that achieving a high-quality galvanized coating would require careful attention to venting and drainage. The challenge was finding the balance between galvanizing best practices and preserving the clean architectural appearance that made the structure so special. Too many openings could distract from the artistry of the design. Too few could impact coating quality. Through early collaboration with their galvanizing partner, the team developed practical solutions that allowed the molten zinc to flow properly while maintaining the elegance of the finished structure. The result was an outstanding galvanized coating that fulfilled both the performance and aesthetic objectives of the project. Following galvanizing, the structure received a finish coat in Thaden School's signature blue, creating what is known as a duplex coating system. The blue finish ties the awning seamlessly into the campus environment while allowing the owl-wing structure to stand out as an iconic architectural feature. Beyond aesthetics, the duplex coating represents one of the most effective corrosion protection systems available. When paint and hot-dip galvanizing are used together, each protects the other. The paint helps shield the zinc from environmental exposure, while the zinc continues protecting the steel beneath. This synergistic relationship significantly extends the life expectancy of both coatings and provides a level of durability far greater than either system could achieve independently. That longevity is especially valuable here. Because the canopy spans a primary entrance to the athletic facility, future coating maintenance would require working above an active pedestrian area and could disrupt normal campus operations. By minimizing that long-term maintenance burden while preserving the architectural appearance envisioned by the design team, the duplex system was a natural choice for a school focused on stewardship, longevity, and responsible investment. Perhaps that is what makes this project so compelling. At first glance, it is a beautifully fabricated steel awning. Look closer, however, and it becomes something more. It is a symbol of wisdom. A symbol of growth. A symbol of the future. The owl wing stands as a reminder that meaningful achievements require vision, preparation, and perseverance. The same qualities that help a student succeed in the classroom also help a structure endure for generations. Just as the owl sees farther, the project team looked farther ahead. Just as Thaden School prepares students for a lifetime of learning, hot-dip galvanizing and the duplex coating system were selected to provide a lifetime of protection. And for generations of Barnstormers yet to come, this wing will continue to extend overhead with the same message it carries today: Together We Fly