The Downtown Lincoln Association (DLA) unveiled its new brand identity, which emphasizes themes of live, learn, work, invest, play with a refreshed logo and iconic look to capture the vibrancy of Downtown Lincoln. Working with local marketing agency Archrival, the new identity represents all of Downtown with versatility and is intended to complement the recently established Lincoln brand. Watch for the new look in all DLA marketing venues, print, online and social media.
The winners of the 2013 Downtown Impact Awards were also announced at DLA’s annual meeting on October 30th. DLA’s Impact Awards recognize businesses or individuals that have made a significant contribution to downtown Lincoln. Nearly 250 people attended the event held at the Embassy Suites Hotel. The six Downtown Impact Awards included were given to the following recipients:
Significant Private Development – Farmers Mutual Insurance
Since the early 1900’s, Farmers Mutual has had only three addresses and all have been in downtown Lincoln. When it became clear the company was outgrowing its last address, Farmers Mutual began a two-year construction project right next door.
Mindful of its iconic neighbor, the Capitol, great effort went into design and selection of the materials used in the new building. The foundation is Dakota sandstone bedrock and three types of Kansas sandstone were used for the exterior siding, interior walls and staircases, even surrounding its elevator doors. In August, the company moved its 150 local employees into the 64,000 square-foot building, which is 15,000 square feet bigger than its former building. Working toward creating a green footprint, the effort to be energy efficient led to some new rules: No styrofoam or plastic, all reusable cups, and dishwashers in the break rooms. Attention was also given to natural lighting as well as installation of “smart” artificial lighting and heating.
An $18 million building project, Farmers Mutual added another $2 million in landscaping. A courtyard for employees, eight semi loads of groundcover for the green roof, and there are still plans to plant a fenced-in garden space. In fact, as part of its overall future building plans, Farmers Mutual intends to renovate and lease space in its former home.
Residential Development Award – Cadillac Lofts
Over a hundred years ago the H.E. Sidles Company sold Buicks and Cadillacs out of a building on the corner of 13th and ‘P’, originally constructed in the early 1900’s for that very business. The floors above functioned as a hotel. It was a thriving corner.
By the 1960’s, it was a popular restaurant and a pool hall above. In the year 2000, it was anything but bustling. At the start of this decade, Speedway acquired the property and successfully revitalized the building, converting it to the Cadillac Lofts of today – honoring the structure’s history, most notably with a refurbished Cadillac functioning as a first floor awning, while pushing it into the 21st century with innovative design. With high speed internet, state of the art security, a focus on energy efficiency and unique communal spaces including a brick courtyard and rooftop sundeck, the 21 total units housed within provide a truly modern experience for tenants.
Beyond design and amenities, this has been an important development because of the demand for more living space in the downtown area. Having filled up quickly, Cadillac Lofts has made it clear that people want to live downtown not only for proximity to school or work, but for the unique and historic buildings that have long been at the heart of the city.
Providing street level space for a few store fronts as well, Speedway’s efforts have not only increased housing opportunities downtown for the public; with Dickey’s Barbecue Pit and Topper’s Pizza occupying those first floor spaces, this project was an early step in establishing P street as a strong restaurant/retail corridor. In doing so without sacrificing the history and integrity of the building, Speedway has made a positive and unique contribution to the ever changing downtown landscape.
Young Entrepreneur – Hudl Founders
As a student working for the Husker football program, David Graff saw first-hand what he believed to be inefficient methods of distributing film and playbooks to each player, every week. Upon graduating in 2006, David brought in the technological expertise of Brian Kaiser and the sales and management knowledge of John Wirtz. Their task was to produce a prototype that would allow for online, off-site access to footage of the games, and the tools to annotate the videos in real time. After positive feedback from then head coach Callahan, the trio had a bevy of issues to sort out. Price model, real software development, target market, it was all uncertain, but began to take shape after a beta partnership was formed with Callahan and his team. Hudl was born.
In another year or two, kinks had been worked out, pricing was settled and new teams started to take notice of Hudl. Now the fastest growing private company in Lincoln, and number 149 on Inc. Magazine’s national list of 5000, Hudl’s services have obviously caught on outside of Nebraska.
A downtown operation from the beginning, Hudl has outgrown several spaces over the years to end up at its current location of 151 N. 8th Street. Showing no signs of slowing down, they have also recently expanded into two floors above Old Chicago. Their commitment to the area is clear.
With a modern, casual office environment and thousands of clients from professional teams to high school programs, it’s easy to understand their success and appeal among recent graduates and emerging young professionals.
Business Leadership – WRK LLC & Chief Industries
Will and Robert Scott of WRK, LLC are well-known to the Lincoln community for the vision and direction they have undertaken in redeveloping many buildings in Downtown Lincoln, and Chief Industries has a long history in Nebraska as a respected and established manufacturing and construction entity.
Only two years ago the expansion and development in the West Haymarket was still just an idea when WRK, LLC and Chief Industries began a collaborative development plan that would significantly impact the historic area. Today, their idea for the development has blossomed into Canopy Street, a bustling eight blocks of unique retail, restaurants, entertainment and residential space.
The area now boasts a number of unique elements:
The Railyard, a combination of entertainment, restaurant and retail space, offers access to several venues and home to a first floor Public Market.
The Cube, also located in the Railyard, is a stunning set of digital screens unlike anything else in the region, which features digital video art, movies, sporting events and other visual elements. The Cube will overlook a soon to be installed seasonal, outdoor ice skating rink.
Canopy Lofts is a mixed-use, six-story building with first floor retail and 71 residential units above. A number of new restaurants on the first floor have opened their doors to enthusiastic customers, and the residential units have an enviable spot in the midst of Haymarket activity.
Hobson Place, a seven-story complex, will offer luxury condos on the top three floors, and will soon be the home of a Hyatt Place Hotel on floors two through four.
Significant Public Development – Pinnacle Bank Arena
By the time the first shovels dug into the ground on that September day 2 years ago, the impact of the Pinnacle Bank Arena was already becoming clear. Although the name was not yet known, there was a communal excitement among all citizens of the city. Something big was happening in Lincoln.
With over 90 percent of construction, engineering and professional services coming from Lincoln and greater Nebraska, it was first and foremost a local project, one comprised of numerous, unique challenges, not yet faced by the city in other endeavors. This was not just an undertaking; it was in fact the largest public project in the city’s history.
While the arena has undeniably altered the physical landscape of downtown Lincoln, its reach is so much greater, firmly in the minds of the citizens as well. Everyone is seeing Lincoln differently now. The success of early events has been proof of the city’s ever expanding appetite for culture. The arena doesn’t just mean more concerts and bars for the city. It has conveyed a message of possibility and opportunity. There is so much potential here still untapped, and the citizens have definitely taken note.
Downtown Champion – Tom Lorenz
Tom Lorenz has been in the business of arena operations since 1976. For the last 17 years, he has worked the Pershing Center for SMG, an entertainment company that provides convention and entertainment venue management worldwide. Tom is now the general manager of the Pinnacle Bank Arena, as well as the Pinewood Bowl.
Developing the new facility has been a long, careful process. It’s thanks to the efforts of an enormous pool of talented individuals that we have a new, modern facility. But it’s thanks to Tom and his team that the arena has moved from successful development to sustainable concert and event center. To have his input at each step has proved to be truly invaluable. High profile performers have already praised the venue and its staff. As Tom has said, it is through this positive word of mouth that many subsequent concerts are booked.
Ten shows in the first eighty days of operation, many of them near if not total sellouts, speaks to Tom’s expertise. It takes real dedication, long hours, patience and a level headed attitude to pull that off. The arena alone is a full time job. One could forgive him for a slower schedule at the Pershing Center, but that hasn’t been the case. Quite the contrary, Pershing has been at its busiest in years, hosting annual events like Ribfest and the FFA conference, as well as a range of mid-level tours geared towards the college scene and youth markets, demonstrating Tom’s work ethic, understanding of demographics outside his own and genuine love of music and entertainment. He has stressed the importance of listening and responding to the community’s comments, concerns and questions, and in everything he does for downtown and the city at large, it shows.
by Terry Uland, President
Downtown Lincoln Association
402-434-6900
Founded in 1967, the Downtown Lincoln Association provides services and champions initiatives for maintaining and enhancing our vibrant downtown. Our vision is to create an energetic downtown environment where we live, learn, work, invest and play. DLA has evolved into a multi-faceted organization supporting a wide range of programs and activities including maintenance, economic development and advocacy.
For a complete listing of downtown businesses, events and residences visit downtownlincoln.org. ‘Like’ us on Facebook at facebook.com/downtownlincoln.