Kiewit Hall Honored with AIA Nebraska Design Awards

The recently opened Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was recognized with two design awards at Friday’s Excellence in Design Gala hosted by the Nebraska chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).  The project, designed by Ballinger in conjunction with Clark & Enersen, won an Architecture Merit Award and the People’s Choice Architecture Award.

The design jury praised the articulation of the architectural massing and levels of transparency amidst a decidedly different campus tradition. “The openness of the atrium as well as the communal stair within the building was a standout architectural highlight,” noted the jury. “The building seems spatially well-equipped to usher in a new era of scholarship, interaction, and architecture on the campus.”

Kiewit Hall is 182,000 SF learning and social nexus for the University of Nebraska College of Engineering. The building anchors a vibrant new campus quad that embraces existing engineering and residence halls to form a new campus living and learning community. As the first college of engineering facility designed to achieve both LEED and WELL Building certifications, Kiewit Hall exemplifies sustainable innovation. Its systems reduce overall energy usage (EUI) by 78%, setting a new standard for environmentally responsible campus design.

The AIA Nebraska Excellence in Design Awards recognize outstanding contributions to architecture in Nebraska and by Nebraska-based firms. This year’s gala, held in Lincoln on November 15, celebrated achievements that inspire and elevate the architectural profession.

Read more about the award and other honorees here