OBD AWARDS 2008 CIVIC LEAF to MCC, OPL, MAT
December 17, 2008
December 17, 2008
OBD AWARDS 2008 CIVIC LEAF to MCC, OPL, MAT
OMAHA – Three Omaha organizations have been recognized for their collaborative contribution to the civic vitality of South Omaha.
Omaha by Design awarded its 2008 Civic Leaf to Metropolitan Community College (MCC), Omaha Public Library (OPL) and Metro Area Transit (MAT) for the development of MCC’s South Omaha Campus Connector. Representatives from the three organizations were honored at the Dec. 17 meeting of the Omaha by Design Advisory Committee.
The Civic Leaf – presented annually by Omaha by Design – recognizes an individual, organization or business that has worked to define and improve the metropolitan area’s civic places and public image.
The 75,000 square foot South Omaha Campus Connector is the dynamic core of MCC’s presence in South Omaha. The two-story steel and glass structure provides visitors with an excellent view of the campus and surrounding area, including the historic Stockyard Exchange Building. The Connector tower was built to emphasize the rejuvenation of the area, and two large brick ‘ruin walls’ were constructed as a reference to the massive industrial buildings that once occupied the site. It includes classroom and lab space, faculty offices, a cafe and food court, a commons area and student services.
The Connector physically links MCC’s Mahoney Building and Industrial Training Center as well as a shared library with Omaha Public Library and a new MAT transit center. AIA Nebraska recently recognized the facility – designed by Bahr Vermeer Haecker Architects – with a 2008 Honor Award for Design in the new construction category in conjunction with its Designing Economics-Excellence in Design Awards competition, an annual event for Nebraska architects.
The 23,300 square foot library, designed to serve MCC students and community members alike, houses a computer lab, a teen center, substantial reference and research space for MCC and OPL materials, an enhanced children’s area and OPL’s largest Spanish language collection.
The public transportation hub at MCC is one of MAT’s three new transit centers. They function more like airport hubs, bolstering the system’s ability to move people throughout the city in multiple directions. Each transit center includes a number of passenger amenities, including dedicated lighting, scheduling information, enhanced protection from inclement weather, off-street transferring activities and electronic message displays.
For more information, contact Omaha by Design at 402.554.4010 or info@omahabydesign.org.