University of Nebraska at Kearney - Discovery Hall

University of Nebraska at Kearney – Discovery Hall

STEM and fine arts refresh

University of Nebraska Kearney’s Otto Olsen Replacement Project is comprised of a new STEM Building and small additions to the existing UNK Fine Arts Building. Both project components are located on the UNK campus with the new STEM building on the western side of campus and the fine arts addition on the eastern side of campus.

Perkins+Will and BCDM partnered together to create a new STEM building program that brings together a variety of departments from the College of Business & Technology and the College of Natural & Social Sciences in a single STEM (science / technology / engineering / math) building. The additions to the fine arts building provide replacement space for the glass kilns and sculpture studio as well as re-locations of the drawing and painting studios.

Client:

The University of Nebraska - Kearney

Location:

Kearney, NE

Budget:

$24,229,898

Year:

2019

New addition

The new UNK STEM building will be an important component in the revitalization of the west campus. The building will be located on an existing parking lot just north of the west center and will serve as a new gateway to and from the large, landscaped quadrangle. 19th Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic so that students and faculty no longer need to cross this roadway.

The main pedestrian entry to the building is across a new plaza on the southeast corner of the building. Another primary entry opens on to the landscaped quadrangle to the west. Additional entries allow for pedestrian access from both the north and south. All building support services are located on the north side of the building.

The large, existing trees on the north and west of the building will be conserved. New sidewalks will link building entries to the existing network of pedestrian sidewalks. Landscape zones around the building will be planted with new grass and trees.

The design

The architectural concept for the new building organizes programs into two parallel bars with a two-story lobby / commons space between them. Both of the bars are three stories tall and connected on all levels. An enclosed pedestrian bridge will also connect to the existing west center at the second level.

Brick is the primary exterior cladding material. A staggered pattern of ribbon windows helps to provide texture and adds visual interest to the facade. The lobby / commons space will have a more glassy expression in order to invite people into the building.

The interior design is intended to celebrate the facility’s engineering-related program. The lobby / commons will be an open, collaborative space that can be used for a variety of different activities.

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