Omaha By Design: Omaha, Only Better

by Ken Mayer

Last month I addressed what our homes say to the world about what we value. This month I turn my attention to public architecture. The lexicon of our buildings often tells us what to expect of a structure and what our community prizes.

For centuries, places of worship had the greatest importance. Steeples and domes dominated the skyline as a testament to the community’s faith in a higher power. In some places, there were ordinances against building anything taller than the church, so it would occupy the place closest to heaven.

Renaissance Florence saw the rise of the palazzo, literally a palace that housed the headquarters of a family or institution of some considerable importance. In those days the pallazzi were emblematic of the new financial age and the power vested in money rather than in government or even the military. For many years American banks were often built in this style because it had come to mean strength, solidity and safety.

Little wonder that Omaha National Bank in 1909 purchased the New York Life Building, now Kutak Rock’s home, because of its Italian Renaissance facade that echos the Palazzo Medici. It said your money is safe here.

Omaha’s skyline today also reflects the importance of financial services as insurance and bank buildings tower over its streets. The sweeping curve of the Qwest Center telegraphs the message that we are a river town looking toward the future. The public art sprinkled along the riverfront gives the nod to the notion that fun, creativity and recreation are a part of our lives as well.

The recent announcement that the city has sealed the deal for the College World Series and the construction of a new baseball stadium reinforces the idea that Omaha is no longer all work and no play. Although the CWS contract certainly helps assure that the new ball yard will have a source of funding for decades, I got to thinking about the price of the stadium compared to some other recent and proposed projects around town.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m in favor of a new ball park. In fact I hope that the Royals will leverage a new home into bigger and better attendance, and that all of us who love the game can see more of it.

But the price tag is estimated to be $140 million. Wow! That got me thinking. We recently built an arguably world class concert hall for only $100 million. It even included the expense of putting a roof on the whole shebang.

In early June, UNO will break ground for the construction of a new College of Business Administration building on the South Campus integrated into the mixed-use new urbanism of Aksarben Village. Cost of the structure is estimated at $30 million.

These costs may say something about our values. For instance, Nebraska has a long history of sparing no expense when it comes to college athletics, and the price of the new ball park seems no exception.

In short, I wonder if our values are a little twisted. It seems to me that the $30 million UNO project will yield a far greater return on investment to our community than the $140 million ball park will.

In that regard, perhaps we should consider reusing Rosenblatt by reviving a century’s old sport-for-entertainment activity. All we need do is dig a tunnel from the infield across the street to the zoo’s cat complex, and we can bring back the excitement of the gladiatorial games.

As for human combatants, I’d like to propose that we consider tossing in those folks who are so dedicated to sports over the arts and education.