Looking Back at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute Project

A few seasons have passed since we packed up our brushes and called it a wrap on one of the most rewarding projects we’ve tackled in recent memory: the repaint of the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute (WRI) on Petit Jean Mountain. The job itself was big—30,000 square feet of wood and metal siding—but the scale wasn’t the only reason it stood out. This one meant something to us.

If you’ve never been to the Institute, it’s not your typical nonprofit campus. It’s a place where people gather to work on serious challenges—economic development, education, health, agriculture, the arts. Universities, nonprofits, government agencies, and community leaders all use WRI as a retreat and planning space. And when they do, they’re walking through and staying in the buildings we helped restore.

When we took that job in the summer of 2023, it wasn’t just about paint. It was about maintaining a space that brings real value to Arkansas.

Getting the Job Done Right

From the start, we knew this one would test us. The buildings had taken a beating from the elements. Rain, sun, snow, and time had worn down the surfaces. Some metal siding had started rusting. The wood siding had faded and picked up more than its share of dirt and buildup. There was a lot of ground to cover—literally—but that’s exactly the kind of work CertaPro Painters of Central Arkansas shows up for.

Our crew began with a deep clean. We got rid of the grime, scraped away loose or peeling paint, and made sure we had a surface that was ready to hold up. We also treated the rusted areas and applied primers that would protect the materials underneath, not just make them look better.

Then came the real transformation. With each coat, the property began to look like itself again. The siding was restored to its original color, matching the identity WRI has carried for years. No guesswork, no shortcuts—just the right materials applied by a team that understands what durability means on a mountaintop in Arkansas.

More Than Just A Project

Here’s the thing. A lot of jobs are satisfying because you leave the place looking better than when you found it. But this one stuck with us. Not every day do you work on a property that hosts roundtables on food insecurity, health care strategy sessions, or creative writing workshops. Not every day do you paint a building that houses people doing long-term planning for the state. Truly, we were (and are) honored to have worked with the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute.

That’s what made this job different. CertaPro Painters of Central Arkansas was proud to be part of something that stretches beyond the walls themselves. Because when people step into a well-kept space—when it looks clean, feels cared for, and reflects the pride of the people who run it—they notice. That kind of space sets the tone for the work they do inside.

We weren’t just there to make something look good. We were there to help preserve a setting that matters.

A Project That Showed What Local Means

We’re based right here in Central Arkansas. That means when we take on a project like this, we’re working in our own backyard. These aren’t just clients—they’re neighbors. That’s part of what gives our team its drive. Whether it’s a home in Conway, a small business in Little Rock, or a campus like WRI on Petit Jean Mountain, we take pride in knowing we’re improving the spaces our communities use every day.

This was a chance to show what that looks like on a larger scale. We showed up. We got the job done right. And the end result still holds up.

Read the Full Project Highlight Blog Here

If you’re curious about the details—how we prepped the buildings, what products we used, or how the transformation took shape—we’ve got it all laid out. The full case study breaks down every step of the process, from our first walkaround to the final brushstroke. It’s a closer look at what a full-scale exterior repaint can look like when it’s handled by a team that cares about quality and knows the local climate. Read the full case study here!