Nebraska Chapter ACI Celebrates Excellence in Concrete Construction

The Nebraska Chapter of the American Concrete Institute recently recognized the winners of its 2025 Concrete Awards Program, honoring RDG’s design for St. Patrick Catholic Church with an Award of Excellence. The annual award ceremony recognizes outstanding work in concrete construction and practices within the state of Nebraska. 

RDG’s design for St. Patrick Catholic Church in Elkhorn, Nebraska, uses concrete as a primary architectural material to evoke the layered growth of historic monastic settlements, with shifting rooflines and rising volumes that establish a hierarchy of space. The project’s main masonry units feature 12-by-24-inch cast stone units in varied thicknesses and a mix of smooth and rough-faced finishes, allowing concrete to serve both structural and expressive roles. 

Architectural precast elements, including sills, lintels and arches, are integrated throughout, reinforcing durability and precision. This disciplined use of concrete supported consistent construction methods, delivering a timeless and permanent material expression. By utilizing a consistent material with a varied color palette, the design enables continuity of installation methods and teams throughout the construction process, anchoring the parish's legacy and honoring a centuries-long monastic tradition. 

As part of the competition, projects were judged by their noteworthy use of concrete, including special uses of concrete or innovative concrete construction techniques. Judging was conducted by a panel of professionals from various disciplines within the concrete industry. The 2025 Nebraska Chapter ACI Concrete Awards recipients were recognized at the 2025 Concrete Awards Banquet on January 30, 2026, in Omaha, Nebraska.