Omaha Forums

Leslie Reed WORLD-HERALD BUREAU wrote:LINCOLN — Chancellor Harvey Perlman said today that he sees the new research campus planned for the state fairgrounds as a potential bridge between the two existing University of Nebraska-Lincoln campuses.

During his annual “state of the university” speech, Perlman unveiled a plan to beef up study and research into life sciences and biology at UNL.

Perlman called for greater collaboration between agriculture faculty on the East Campus and the engineering and science faculty on the main City Campus as UNL embarks on the establishment of the Innovation Campus at State Fair Park. The fairgrounds abuts the downtown campus and comes within blocks of the East Campus.

“Through both its geography and its activities, Innovation Campus has the potential to transform the university,” Perlman said. “It is stunning how this piece of land connects in a physical way what we have come to call the City and East Campuses.”

The board OK'd plans for the $801 million campus following a bus tour of the now-quiet fairgrounds, during which regents donned hard hats and got a firsthand look at the 4-H and Industrial Arts buildings.

The 4-H Building is slated for renovation into a campus commons area at the heart of Innovation Campus. The Industrial Arts Building is scheduled, at least for now, for demolition.

But at least one regent cautioned his "yes" vote doesn't mean he supports tearing down the Industrial Arts Building.

University leaders and Innovation Campus consultants haven't fully explored all options for preserving the building, Regent Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons said.

He said the building, with its ornate features, is exactly the type of attraction that would draw young people to Lincoln.

"It is the kind of architecture that is appealing," Hassebrook said. "To destroy that would be a shame."

But Jay Noddle of Omaha-based Noddle Cos., the company that led the effort to craft a business plan for Innovation Campus, said preserving the Industrial Arts Building isn't the best use for that site.

Consultants seriously considered preservation, especially in light of the recent report, Noddle said.

But renovation would be extremely costly, he said. Beyond that, the building's site -- expected to serve as part of Innovation Campus' "front door" -- has higher potential.

"Preservation is worthwhile, but you've got to pick your spot," Noddle said. "What happens right here (at the site) is huge."

The site could be used for office or research space, or perhaps a hotel, he said.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman said preserving the Industrial Arts Building would require private funding, since UNL can't afford work on that building in addition to the 4-H Building renovation and infrastructure costs.

Big E wrote:Since the LJS can't seem to be bothered to post a picture:



And, not surprisingly, I agree this building should be saved.  Would make a great visitors center or demonstration area of some sort.

National Trust for Historic Preservation wrote:Significance
In the early days of the last century, the citizens of Lincoln, Neb. were eager to create a grand showcase for their city's most important export – agricultural products.

When a dramatic new 93,500-square-foot trapezoidal red brick exposition space was dedicated in 1913 at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds, local dreams were realized. With Palladian windows, natural skylights, intricate roof trusses and a 4-story fountained interior, the Agricultural Hall, as it was called, was a showstopper.  

After a new hall was built in 1948, the old building, renamed Industrial Arts, continued to serve the community for nearly six decades – until 2004, when it closed due to disrepair. For nearly a century, the iconic Industrial Arts Building has showcased the best of Nebraska. Saving this handsome, well-built building and giving it a bright new future is what sustainability and innovation are all about.

In addition to its importance to Nebraska's agricultural history, the Industrial Arts Building has an aviation pedigree.  Following World War I, the Lincoln Standard Aircraft Company used the building to assemble airplanes, including the plane in which Charles Lindbergh learned to fly.


Updates
May 19, 2010: When the Nebraska State Fair elected to move from its longtime home in Lincoln, ownership of the Industrial Arts Building was transferred to the University of Nebraska, which plans to create a research park called Innovation Campus on the old fairgrounds site. Despite its long history of showcasing innovation, the Industrial Arts Building is not part of the university's master plan and will soon meet the wrecking ball unless a developer steps forward to rescue and reuse the building.

Historic Omaha wrote:since i don't think this has been posted...

http://savetheiab.com/Bids.aspx

http://www.alexandercompany.com/

This company is absolutely amazing.  I hope that the University takes them up on the proposal - and i hope that they like Nebraska so much that they do a project in Omaha - like the power plant at 6th & Jones.

Leslie Reed WORLD-HERALD BUREAU wrote:The fight to save a historic Nebraska State Fair exhibition hall was dealt a major blow Tuesday, when University of Nebraska-Lincoln officials rejected a proposal to redevelop the 1913 Industrial Arts Building.

1. 170,000-square-foot central commons building -- Includes renovation of original 4-H building; nearly doubles size of that building. State funds of $10 million will renovate east half; Woodbury Corp. will renovate west half.
2. Companion building to commons building -- To be built by Woodbury Corp.
3. "Food, fuel and water" research facility -- $30 million building will use $15 million in state funds and $15 million in private gifts to be raised by NU.
4. Equal-sized life science building -- To be constructed by Woodbury if NU raises its $15 million match for the "food, fuel and water" research facility.

iamjacobm wrote:http://journalstar.com/news/local/educa ... f21e3.html

1. 170,000-square-foot central commons building -- Includes renovation of original 4-H building; nearly doubles size of that building. State funds of $10 million will renovate east half; Woodbury Corp. will renovate west half.
2. Companion building to commons building -- To be built by Woodbury Corp.
3. "Food, fuel and water" research facility -- $30 million building will use $15 million in state funds and $15 million in private gifts to be raised by NU.
4. Equal-sized life science building -- To be constructed by Woodbury if NU raises its $15 million match for the "food, fuel and water" research facility.

Very exciting news!

Omaha World-Herald wrote:LINCOLN -- Developers will preserve the outer facade of the Industrial Arts Building while converting the interior space to high-ceilinged research laboratories and state-of-the-art greenhouses, University of Nebraska-Lincoln officials announced Thursday.

But the 1913 building's interior steel trusses and mezzanine level will need to be gutted to make way for the new uses, said Zach Wiegert, manager of Nebraska Nova Development, the company responsible for transforming the former State Fairgrounds in Lincoln to a public-private research park.

“Breaking Ground for the Future” is the theme of a ceremonial event and major announcement Nov. 16 on a new level of collaboration between UNL and ConAgra Foods. The collaboration includes expanded research and development projects at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

The collaboration will be announced at an event at 3 p.m. Nov. 16 at Van Brunt Visitors Center. A live-streamed video will be available for viewing at http://real.unl.edu/live_3.

A grand opening will be held Thursday for the conference center at the Nebraska Innovation Campus, the new research and technology park on Lincoln's old state fairgrounds.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman is scheduled to speak at the ceremony.

The center provides multi-functional meeting and collaboration space that includes a 400-seat auditorium, 400-seat banquet room, eight breakout rooms and five catering options.

Coyote wrote:Just heard in an interview, UNL is now starting Phase II. Also heard they have their first restaurant... The Mill is opening a second location (Haymarket). I don't remember the one in the Haymarket... is this a Good get?

Say hello to Sunseo Omega 3, the first tenant at Nebraska Innovation Campus' new 80,000-square-foot building.

The South Korean animal food manufacturer and distributor will debut its U.S. headquarters in August when the new Rise Building opens. The company has leased an office at Innovation Campus since January.

iamjacobm wrote: ↑Wed Jun 06, 2018 11:52 am https://morningsky.com/omaha/posts/sout ... ome-for-hq

Say hello to Sunseo Omega 3, the first tenant at Nebraska Innovation Campus' new 80,000-square-foot building.

The South Korean animal food manufacturer and distributor will debut its U.S. headquarters in August when the new Rise Building opens. The company has leased an office at Innovation Campus since January.

The USDA on Tuesday announced two sites in the Cornhusker State are among the 67 still vying to host offices for the Economic Research Service, as well as the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Nebraska Innovation Campus is the site of choice by a consortium of officials and state entities, including Gov. Pete Ricketts, former Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, the City of Lincoln, as well as the Nebraska departments of economic development and agriculture.