ENR 2024 Midwest Best Projects
Award of Merit, Government/Public Building: City of Columbus Community Building
Photo by Tom Kessler
City of Columbus Community Building
Columbus, Neb.
Award of Merit
Submitted by: Boyd Jones
Owner: City of Columbus
Lead Design Firm: BVH Architecture
General Contractor: Boyd Jones Construction Co.
Civil Engineer: Olsson
Structural Engineer: Voss & Associates
MEP Engineer: Morrissey Engineering
Landscape Architect: Confluence
Acoustical Design Consultant: C&C Consultants
Library Design Consultant: Margaret Sullivan Studios
Multiple essential services that were previously housed in separate buildings, including city hall, a library and a children’s museum, have a new home under one roof in downtown Columbus. As one of the first facilities of its kind in the state of Nebraska, this $26.54-million community building brings various services together to create a functional and purposeful space.
Before construction on the new structure could begin, crews carefully demolished the site’s former building. To mitigate safety concerns related to the plate glass installed on the existing structure, workers were equipped with Kevlar sleeves and gloves, along with suction tools to stabilize and remove each pane intact.
A proactive approach was necessary on the three-story facility amid ongoing pandemic-induced supply chain issues. The project team issued six early bid packages to navigate market volatility, which expedited and ensured the schedule. Scanning technology detected changes in stem wall widths late in the design phase, ensuring that footings aligned perfectly with bolt placements for structural steel. The building’s design focuses heavily on inclusivity and accessibility.
