The Barn at Glacier Creek Preserve

CLIENT: University of Nebraska at Omaha
LOCATION: Omaha, NE
ARCHITECT: Randy Brown Architects

Lund-Ross served as the general contractor for the renovation of a century-old dairy barn into a state-of-the-art education and research facility for the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). The barn and silo were donated to UNO and moved from Elkhorn to the Glacier Creek Preserve near Bennington, Nebraska, in early 2012.

The Glacier Creek Preserve is among the largest and oldest original tallgrass prairie restorations in the nation. The Barn at Glacier Creek provides much-needed classroom, office, and field lab and research space at the nature preserve.

UNO contracted all site foundation work prior to awarding Lund-Ross the renovation contract, and construction began in fall 2012. The barn required a large amount of reframing on both the interior and exterior, and a nearby barn was demolished and used as reclaimed wood.

Energy-efficient mechanical electrical systems were installed in the basement, and a new entrance, lobby, restrooms, office, kitchenette, and field lab addition were built on the 1,296-square-foot ground floor. The original hayloft was reconstructed on the upper floor. A new 1,296-square-foot classroom space was built, and state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment was installed.

Stamped concrete viewing patios and a parking lot were poured, and sustainable landscaping systems including native grasses were used to reduce stormwater runoff and protect the site. Lund-Ross completed the education and research facility for UNO in September 2013.