A new front entrance along the major pedestrian corridor of 16th Street gives the College of Engineering visibility and prominence on the campus, as does the glass façade, which is designed with recessed panels that transform a usually flat element into one of multidimensional architectural interest. 

The high-performance glazing system allows panoramic views down 17^th Street to the State Capitol while giving designers the ability to reduce the solar heat gain of the glass and increase the U value of the glass’s performance. A shadowy 10’ passageway has become a pleasant pedestrian thoroughfare lined with native shrubs and grasses, with views into the busy lab and graduate student spaces and exposing the historic façade of Nebraska Hall.

The primary goals of this project were to increase visibility, efficiency and circulation within the College of Engineering. “Science on display” is an underlying theme throughout this building, with large glass panels offering views into lab and learning spaces and a sense of light and openness building-wide. 

Civil, chemical and electrical/computer labs are renovated and modernized, and state-of-the-art research labs are included for Material Science (High Bay), Mechanical Design, Laser and Electrical. All building systems in Nebraska Hall and Scott Engineering Center were replaced, updates were made to meet current building codes and ADA guidelines, and new socialization spaces were added to help re-brand the look of the newly linked facility.

New departmental offices for the Civil and Electrical departments and new workspaces for graduate students are incorporated.