University of Nebraska–Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman said the latest plans are exciting and demonstrate the university’s collaboration with the state, local leaders, private industry and historic preservationists. “I have always indicated that no one would be happier if we could find a private developer with the financing and creativity to reposition the Industrial Arts Building for a use consistent with the goals of Innovation Campus,” Perlman said. “This concept does that and is central to the
Nebraska Innovation Campus ‘food, fuel and water’ theme we have promoted for the
UNL, Nebraska Nova Save the Industrial Arts Building By Kelly Bartling, ’86, ’08
Duncan said the renovated and repurposed IAB will
campus. I think this concept will go a long way in allowing us to attract private-sector companies to the property.” In 2011, the Nebraska Legislature invested $25 million in development funding for Nebraska Innovation Campus – $10 million of which is intended for the renovation of the original 4-H Building. Another $15 mil-
be a research anchor and symbolic gateway building for the
lion in funding also was offered to be matched by private
unveiled a new look and usage plan for the Industrial Arts
campus. It will be directly linked to a major life sciences re-
development, targeted by the NIC corporate board for the
Building, a historic structure at the former Nebraska State
search facility that will house laboratory space for univers-
creation of the life science building. Funding for the IAB
Fair Park. A design concept approved by the Nebraska
ity and private industry researchers and startup companies.
renovation project announced today will be part of the $80
Innovation Campus Development Corp. maintains the
The life sciences building links to the former 4-H building
million investment plan announced last June.
historic footprint and external facade of the 99-year-old
– the east half of which is being renovated into a confer-
Located on 232 acres north of City Campus, the
building while enabling advanced greenhouse space to be
ence center – which in turn links to a 90,000-square-foot
former state fairgrounds came into university possession in
developed on the second floor.
companion building. The result is an initial complex of
2010, and demolition, planning and pre-development
Planners at Nebraska Innovation Campus have
Consultants and planners for Nebraska Innovation
connected buildings creating the core of Phase 1 of Innova-
Campus had recommended the brick-and-steel trapezoidal-
tion Campus. Work is ready to begin on the former
shaped 1913 structure be razed to make way for develop-
4-H building project, to be complete
ment at the campus. In response to concerns about the
by April 2013.
planned demolition expressed by historic preservationists, the university initially issued a request for proposals for the building’s redevelopment that failed to attract proposals with financing. In June, Nebraska Nova Development LLC was contracted to carry out the first phase of development for Innovation Campus. That plan included four new or renovated buildings representing an estimated $80 million in public and private investments. The concept for the renovated IAB involves construction of a concrete floor inside the current walls at 17 feet
“This entire complex
above the current floor. This will allow the first floor to be
of more than 300,000 square feet will provide
used for greenhouse mechanical space, high bay research
space for multiple types of research and office needs,”
space needs and other functions. The second floor will
Duncan said. “Work with Nebraska Nova and multiple
house state-of-the-art greenhouse space, greenhouse sup-
architects on this project has been very satisfying. We are
have been under way since.
port space and approximately 4,000 square feet of office
excited to merge the past with the future in the complex of
The research campus will be a public-private collaboration
space.
buildings.”
that capitalizes on research growth and expertise of UNL
“This is an excellent plan that maximizes the vast
The 93,000-square foot Industrial Arts Building was
faculty to strengthen economic development in Nebraska.
openness of the interior of the IAB while maintaining the
developed as exposition space and called Agricultural Hall.
University consultants in 2009 estimated Nebraska Innova-
integrity of the historic building structure – giving the
Following World War I, the Lincoln Standard Aircraft
tion Campus could bring annual new payroll to the local
building a new, 21st-century use and respecting its connec-
Co. used the building to assemble airplanes. In 1948 it
and state economy of $267 million, including $149 mil-
tion with Nebraska history and the importance of agricul-
was renamed Industrial Arts. It was closed in 2004 when
lion in direct annual payroll and $118 million in indirect
ture to the state,” said Dan Duncan, executive director for
disrepair rendered it dangerous and useless as fair exposi-
payroll from new spin-off jobs over 25 years of phased
Nebraska Innovation Campus. “This is most definitely a
tion space.
development.
win-win.”
innovate.unl.edu
NEBRASKA INNOVATION CAMPUS | Spring 2012 | 11