New Goodwill retail and donation center breaks ground in Elkhorn

Sep 26, 2023 | News Release

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New Goodwill retail and donation center breaks ground in Elkhorn

The LEO A DALY designed facility will be Goodwill’s first ground-up, free-standing build in the Omaha metro in a decade.

People in hard hats scooping earth at a groundbreaking.

LEO A DALY has completed design on Goodwill Industries, Inc. newest retail store and donation center, located at 18905 Evans Street in Elkhorn, Nebraska. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on September 26th, 2023. LEO A DALY provides architectural design and engineering services for the site adapt project and was chosen in part due to experience and success in retail design. C2 Building Company will provide construction services.

The new 15,000-SF facility is Goodwill’s sixteenth store and includes a retail sales floor, drive-thru donation center, online pick up, a training room, and will employ up to 35 people. The project expands Goodwill’s commitment to furthering their mission of generating essential funds to support programs that help those with disabilities and other barriers find employment.

Erin Froschheiser, LEO A DALY Associate and Project Manager on the project says the team is excited to bring new occupant benefits to Goodwill’s sixteenth store location, “The retail design will balance the familiar look and feel Goodwill patrons and employees are accustomed to with new features, including sustainability, design for employee wellness and enhanced shopper experience and wayfinding.”

Through charettes and extensive lighting studies, it became clear that both the retail areas and sorting rooms at Goodwill outlets lacked sufficient natural light. As a design solution, clerestory windows were strategically placed to flood the facility with natural light. This not only boosts employee well-being but also reduces the facility’s reliance on artificial lighting. Thoughtful lighting strategies facilitate a more even light distribution, enhancing merchandise visibility throughout. Converting outmoded display windows to regular windows has also further maximized daylight, floor space, and fitting room availability.

A rendering of a Goodwill Retail store with a donation drive through and entrance.

The Goodwill Elkhorn facility will serve a new part of Omaha

“We’ve prioritized creating a workplace environment that fosters well-being,” shares Sheila Ireland, LEO A DALY Associate and Senior Architect on the project. “In addition to maximizing natural light, our retail design includes an expanded break room and outdoor seating area with green space for employees to enjoy their breaks and lunches. Further, safety considerations, like a window in the manager’s office door, have been integrated for the benefit of both managers and employees.”

Pragmatic design choices important to the client have been seamlessly incorporated, including a dry pipe in the entry vestibule to safeguard the sprinkler system from winter freezing. Shade canopies over windows not only provide weather protection for shoppers entering and exiting the building, but also enhance the facility’s energy efficiency. High-performance design elements, such as occupancy sensors and automated, low flow plumbing fixtures, have been implemented to reduce energy consumption and conserve water resources.

The facility seamlessly integrates into its suburban surroundings and goes above and beyond Omaha’s Urban Design Guidelines. Exterior modifications were executed to meet these requirements, along with an increased exterior wall height to enhance visibility from Maple Street, an arterial road. The taller walls also serve as rooftop screens to discreetly house mechanical equipment, and the addition of trees along the east perimeter will provide shade and establish a natural boundary between the facility and the adjacent residential neighborhood.

The new Goodwill retail store is anticipated to open Fall 2024.

People in hard hats smiling at the camera at a groundbreaking ceremony

North Metro Regional Public Safety Training Facility opens for law enforcement simulation training

Aug 28, 2023 | News, News Release

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North Metro Regional Public Safety Training Facility opens for law enforcement simulation training

The facility stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, better preparing officers for 21st century policing challenges

A police officer walking into the North Metro Regional Training Facility. An American flag waves in the foreground.

Local, county, and state officials gathered in Maple Grove, Minnesota, to celebrate the grand opening of the North Metro Regional Public Safety Training Facility. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the culmination of a transformative project that brings state-of-the-art, realistic simulation training capabilities to law enforcement officers in the region. The $17 million project was made possible through strong strategic partnerships between elected officials and public safety professionals, and was funded by local, county, and state entities. LEO A DALY provided architectural design and engineering services for project.

The civic project comprised a significant overhaul, including a substantial renovation and two additional new wings, effectively tripling the facility’s footprint. Having initially been built in 1992, the 30-year-old facility had outgrown its space, leading to competition from agencies seeking training time. The renovation and expansion addressed this issue, fostering stronger partnerships between agencies and promoting collaboration for the overall public interest of the region.

Todd LaVold, Associate & Senior Project Manager for LEO A DALY Minneapolis says, “A highlight of this project was seeing how the cities of Maple Grove, Plymouth, Brooklyn Park, and Hennepin County came together for the collective good. Serving law enforcement for over 20 local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and post-secondary institutions in the region, the facility now stands as a symbol of effective cooperation and demonstrates a strong commitment to public safety by all of the communities involved.”

A new opportunity for better simulation training

The revamped facility design is centered upon reality-based, simulation training environments, which provide officers with a safe space to create stressful environments, allowing them to hone their decision-making skills in a controlled setting.

The simulation training spaces within the new addition are smartly designed to interconnect, catering specifically to the increasing expectations for law enforcement agencies to develop more comprehensive and realistic training. Circulation flows from one area to the next, breaking down the compartmentalization of different types of simulation training. New training spaces include:

  • A versatile two-story reality-based training space, featuring movable walls, can simulate school environments, hotel rooms, or residential scenarios, allowing officers to practice in an endless variety of life-like environments.
  • A state-of-the-art virtual reality simulator featuring a 300-degree screen. This advanced technology enables officers to practice de-escalation scenarios and puts officers in real world, highly stressed situations in real-time using realistic, non-lethal firearms.
  • A dedicated mats room for Response to Resistance Training gives officers a safe space to practice self-defense training and use of force training.
  • A secure and protected exterior alley space facilitates simulated traffic stops and incident simulations. The design of this space prioritized keeping the surrounding neighborhoods undisturbed and ensuring officer safety during training.

A renovation that prioritizes officer collaboration and safety

The renovation of the existing building provides vital upgrades, bringing the current facility to modern standards while adapting existing spaces to encourage conversations and post-training debriefs. The new lunch area was important to the renovation allowing further comradery and mixing between law enforcement agencies. Classrooms are renovated to be adaptable to current and future needs and allowing for a variety of class sizes, types, and virtual locations. Upgrades to the existing shooting range offer better acoustic comfort to mitigate reverberation and unsafe sound levels, reducing the physical stress trainers and officers alike can experience. The new 12-lane, 50-yard state-of-the-art range features air filtration systems that reduce lead exposure, creating better energy performance and a safer environment for training.

The project follows the State of Minnesota B3 Guidelines for sustainability and the substantial reduction in energy use intensity (EUI) reflects the state of Minnesota’s commitment to environmental responsibility. The design of this simulation training facility resulted in a 70% reduction in energy usage compared to an existing building of the same type.

National award recognizes LEO A DALY’S dual-purpose lighting design

Aug 24, 2023 | News Release, Uncategorized

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National award recognizes LEO A DALY’S dual-purpose lighting design

Hennepin County Medical Examiner facility receives IES Illumination Award of Merit for dual-purpose lighting design

The lab sapce of the hennepin County Medical Examiner facility featured dual-purpose lighting design for work and wellness

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) adds LEO A DALY to its list of recognized lighting designers for the 50th Annual Illumination Awards. Receiving the Illumination Award of Merit for the complex considerations in the dual-purpose lighting design of the Hennepin County Medical Examiner facility is a celebrated achievement for the design team.

“Clarity of color, visual fatigue and mental wellness were at the top of our planning list,” explained Senior Designer, Greg Lecker. “The lighting carefully considers the privacy and technical needs of forensic death investigation as well as the wellness of the professionals completing this important work.”

While lab space often feels cold or sterile, the laboratories at the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office are flooded with reflected ambient light. The unique detailing of centered skylights distributes diffused reflected light throughout the autopsy area improving clarity and lessening visual fatigue. The lab’s south-facing roof monitors allow for daylight to enter the space while preventing direct views into the space from the exterior.

Natural light also streams in through large sidelights in the office wing. The lighting for this portion of the building offers respite from the high-stress laboratory activities. Large windows and automatic daylighting controls optimize the views of the surrounding forests, prairies, and wetlands. Vertical illumination, accent, and display lighting draw attention to the natural materials throughout the space creating a calm, welcoming environment that encourages restoration.

“IES recognizes projects that demonstrate ingenuity, originality and professionalism,” chimed Trevor Hollins, Practice Lead, Lighting and Electrical. “Our integrated design team is honored knowing our work contributes to the important efforts and well-being of these dedicated workers.”

Energy efficiency is also included in the award-winning design demonstrating results 30% better than International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2018. A building-wide lighting control system reduces energy use through occupant sensing, daylighting and dimming control strategies tailored to the building’s unique spaces. In the autopsy laboratory, custom lighting control stations housing both lighting and HVAC control functionality were created to withstand rigorous cleaning to ensure a clean space free from contaminants and pathogens.

Hennepin County Medical Examiner Facility Wins SB 2030 Award from Minnesota B3

2000 North Miami Avenue receives unanimous approval

Jul 17, 2023 | News, News Release

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2000 North Miami Avenue receives unanimous approval

CLEARLINE Real Estate receives unanimous approval for Wynwood Crossing development at 2000 North Miami Avenue designed by LEO A DALY

Evening rendering of 2000 North Miami Avenue shows the multi-use development in the Wynwood district of Miami
© C Studio, used with permission
Serving as the gateway to one of Miami’s most vibrant zip codes, 2000 North Miami Avenue reveals a dynamic layout for living in the globally-recognized neighborhood of Wynwood Arts District. Demonstrating technical proficiency as the Architect of Record on this mixed-use development, the LEO A DALY Miami studio now leads the architectural design as well. “We are elated for CLEARLINE’s success,” chimed Eddie Egea, AIA, NCARB, Vice President, Managing Principal. “Having both the Wynwood Design Review Committee and the Urban Development Review Board unanimously approve the innovative design solution is an incredible achievement.” The team of experienced collaborators considered all aspects of the city’s rigorous design requirements including the City of Miami’s Miami21 and the zoning overlay for Wynwood zoning district, termed Neighborhood Revitalization District-1.
© C Studio, used with permission
Peeling back the curtain, the innovative design showcases life on all 12 levels of CLEARLINE’s 2000 North Miami Avenue project. “This life-as-art solution is the result of an exceptional partnership and a commitment to our deliberate design process,” said Global Design Principal Irena Savakova, RIBA, LEED AP BD+C. “The strategic location and site give us opportunities to integrate design excellence that literally builds community.” Located at the southeastern edge of Wynwood, the 1.3-acre development site opens the door for the historic neighborhood to transition from an industrial warehouse district to a distinctive, mixed-use residential canvas. Framing elements, playful placements of color, and a dramatic undercut bring this work of art to life and light. As the sun sets, thoughtful design elements shine as the warm panoramic glow through and across the amenities level makes the living spaces appear as if they are elegantly floating above the lively ground-floor retail spaces. A beautifully landscaped paseo exhibiting outdoor seating options leads passersby to the art gallery, shops and entertainment below the illuminated living rooms.
© C Studio, used with permission
The building design prioritizes performance by weaving wellbeing, rightsizing, and energy efficiency into its blend of cultural beauty. The 310 rental units range from small studios to 2-bedroom floor plans that create connection and community through organization and attractive amenities. An inviting courtyard surrounds the pool area and is purposely placed on a higher level to capture framed views and to connect to the surroundings. Additional offerings include a fitness center, co-working conference space, and a popular lounge area encouraging social interaction and engagement.
A Daytime view of 2000 North Miami Avenue in the Wynwood district of Miami
© C Studio, used with permission

LEO A DALY selected to design new Omaha Police and Fire Headquarters

May 9, 2023 | News, News Release, Uncategorized

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LEO A DALY selected to design new Omaha Police and Fire Headquarters

Project will provide Omaha with the first phase toward a  
future modern public safety facility

The City of Omaha has selected LEO A DALY, along with partners McClaren, Wilson and Lawrie, Inc. (MWL) and Lamp Rynearson, for both Phase 1 of planning and Phase 2 of designing a new headquarters for Omaha Police and Fire Departments, which may include a fire station and police precinct. This project will provide one durable, functional civic facility that is conducive to the need for modern policing, firefighting services and emergency responsiveness. 

Since the 1970’s, OPD and OFD headquarters have served their community along downtown’s 15th Street, but in order to effectively continue a commitment to public safety, there is a need to prepare for growth with a freshly designed space. The new headquarters will look to the future with sustainable recommendations and feature an approachable, functional and secure design that will serve the community for decades, while having the potential to be an impetus for urban growth and economic development. 

Currently, the project is in the early stages of Phase 1. The LEO A DALY team will work collaboratively with the City of Omaha and key stakeholders from the Police and Fire Departments to complete Phase 1 and determine size requirements, site recommendations, cost assumptions and site due diligence, along with concept and schematic design. Phase 2 will include design development through construction administration services. Bond approval will be required to carry the project through completion of Phase 2.

In addition to recently designing West Omaha’s police precinct, the LEO A DALY team holds 25 years of experience in designing civic and municipal facilities. Expertise in this sector includes the new City of South Miami Police Headquarters in Miami, Florida and City of Forest Lake City Center, which houses city hall, police and fire station facilities in Forest Lake, Minnesota. 

Data Scientist Joshua Fritz joins the Leo A. Daly Company to enhance data-informed design

Nov 29, 2022 | News, News Release, People news

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Data Scientist Joshua Fritz joins the Leo A. Daly Company to enhance data-informed design

The new role strengthens project outcomes through analytics and data discovery.

Joshua Fritz has joined the Leo A. Daly Company as a data scientist. Fritz’s work will strengthen the company’s data-informed approach to design.

Experienced with artificial intelligence and machine learning, Fritz adds expertise in three types of analytics: descriptive, predictive and prescriptive. Descriptive analytics express what happened in the past. Predictive analytics express what is likely to happen in the future based on the past. And prescriptive analytics takes predictive analytics one step further and recommends actions to take.

Fritz served in the Marine Corps from 2002-2010. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems from Bellevue University and a Master of Science in Data Science: Artificial Intelligence from Northwestern University. A Nebraska native, Fritz is based in Omaha.

“One goal is to produce knowledge from data,” Fritz said. “From providing statistical metrics on building information in certain markets to the types of materials used in certain locations, there is information to be gleaned from data, including trends.”

The crux of the data-scientist role is to extrapolate useable information from data. Fritz will mine data from internal and external sources to offer clients a data-driven perspective on siting, locations, materials, real estate and other design decisions. Fritz will work internally with design teams to analyze geospatial, architectural and economic data. His work will strengthen the company’s ability to examine land parcels, jurisdictions and development opportunities.

“We are thrilled to have Josh on board. His work will enhance our data-informed approach to projects,” said CIO Stephen Held. “Data won’t answer every question for you, but it can help answer questions more quickly by evaluating thousands of decisions in a short amount of time.”

Omaha police precinct recognized for design excellence

Nov 9, 2022 | News, News Release

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Omaha police precinct recognized for design excellence

The Nebraska chapter of the American Institute of Architects has honored LEO A DALY’s City of Omaha Police Department, West Precinct, with a Citation Award

omaha police department exterior
Man walking through a wood paneled corridor of the West Omaha Police Precinct.
Omaha Police Department, West Precinct

LEO A DALY design for the City of Omaha Police Department’s West Precinct has been named the recipient of the Architecture Citation Award in the 2022 AIA Nebraska Excellence in Design Awards. The annual award program recognizes outstanding architecture in Nebraska. 

“This award validates a design approach that places the human experience at the very center. Our design for the new Omaha Police Department precinct attends to the physical safety of officers while maintaining a welcoming civic expression to the community. This duality guided every element of the design, from its expressive shape and warm materials to the many layers of security that help keep officers safe. We’re proud to be recognized,” said Chris Johnson, AIA, managing principal of the Omaha studio.  

The Omaha Police Department’s philosophy of community policing drove the design of its new West Precinct, a facility that exudes warmth and invites civic engagement while remaining secure and functional. The building is divided into two functional zones– an extroverted public face, and a more introverted secure zone – differentiated through material choices and forms. Surfaces oriented towards the street express transparency and cooperation, core ideals of community policing. Ribbons of wood sweep grandly from exterior to interior, guiding members of the public to a service desk, community meeting room, and workstations. An outdoor pocket-park doubles as a security feature, integrating protective barriers, benches, site walls and shade trees.   

Jury members commented: “This project has a very strong civic identity. The subdued palette of glass, brick, metal and wood are nicely detailed and work together to create both a sense of hospitality and of security.” 

LEO A DALY’s Kim Cowman named to HCD 10 by Healthcare Design

Sep 27, 2022 | In the news, News, News Release, People news

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LEO A DALY’s Kim Cowman named to HCD 10 by Healthcare Design

A leader in sustainability and high-performance buildings, Cowman has been named among outstanding professionals who are influencing healthcare-facility design.

Kim Cowman, National Director of Engineering at LEO A DALY
National Director of Engineering Kim Cowman has been named the HCD 10 Building Professional of the Year by Healthcare Design magazine. The award program recognizes 10 professionals each year, including designers, clinicians, researchers and educators.

Cowman is the first in LEO A DALY history to occupy her role as national director, which was created three years ago. Her leadership is already emerging as a powerful force for sustainable, high-performance and integrated design. In the past five years, she has been named to the 40 Under 40 lists for both Consulting-Specifying Engineer and Building Design + Construction.

“As designers, we have a direct impact not just on the climate-related outcomes of communities, but on the health outcomes of the people who occupy healthcare facilities,” Cowman said.

Influencing healthcare design

In 2021, Cowman helped form the LEO A DALY Design Integration Group (DIG), which acts to advance an integrated design agenda. The group benchmarks building-energy use and carbon emissions in healthcare and other markets It also amplifies cross-discipline efforts to elevate sustainability on an occupant-by-occupant level, identifying strategies to create community connections, enhance indoor air quality and harvest daylighting, all of which impact wellness. In 2017, she authored “Unpacking USP 800,” which firmly established her authority in the latest mechanical-system requirements for hospital pharmacies that prepare medication for applications such as chemotherapy.

A leader in high-performance buildings

Cowman’s mechanical design work on the Omaha VA Ambulatory Care Center in Omaha helped the project cut energy use 26.2 percent below the Energy Policy Act of 2017, and to reduce water use by 23.6 percent versus code. The project has won more than 15 industry awards, including this year’s apex Project of the Year Award from Engineering-News Record. Her leadership post-design on the 200,000 SF Carson HQ campus led to real-world benchmarking of an innovative electrochromic envelope. Early next year, she will present the findings at the national Winter Conference for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Her leadership during internal design integration workshops offered designers additional tools to maximize high-performance design decisions for the VA’s first-ever adaptive-reuse hospital, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This healthcare project will reuse structure from existing office buildings, cutting embodied carbon by about 50 percent.

Cowman’s insights have appeared in Forbes, ENR and Architectural Digest, following LEO A DALY’s 2020 whitepaper on reducing pathogens through healthier humidity levels. She holds Professional Engineer licenses in eight U.S. States and the Island of Guam. She was an early adopter of sustainable design. In 2005, she co-authored an academic paper titled “Survey of sustainable building design practices in North America, Europe and Asia,” which was subsequently identified by Google Scholar as a “Classic Paper.” It was the seventh most-cited paper in 2006 from the peer-reviewed Journal of Architectural Engineering.

Engineering mentorship

And outside of work, Cowman has lent her expertise to the community. She served a 3-year appointment on the Omaha Property Maintenance Appeals Board, which evaluates building improvements. She is a regular guest-lecturer at the University of Nebraska’s Durham School of Architectural Engineering. She served a six-year appointment on the Durham School’s Industry Advisory Committee, where she mentored students engaged in team-design projects, mentored freshmen engineering students, and where she acted as a liaison between practicing engineers and educators, helping ensure the highest quality of engineering education. In 2019, she won the school’s Outstanding Alumni Award.

“Kim is uniquely passionate about advancing high-performance design in ways that fuel innovative solutions for our healthcare clients,” said LEO A DALY President Steve Lichtenberger. “Her incredible capacity for solving problems combined with her rigorous execution and vibrant personality make her a standout even among exceptional healthcare designers. This is an award well-deserved, and I am beyond excited to be a part of her very bright future in healthcare design.”

LEO A DALY selected to design athletic facilities upgrades at Peru State College

Sep 24, 2022 | News, News Release

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LEO A DALY selected to design athletic facilities upgrades at Peru State College

After a year of planning, LEO A DALY will design upgrades to sports facilities, which will expand wellness and recreation opportunities for all students and faculty.

LEO A DALY has been selected to design upgrades that will elevate athletics and recreation programs at Peru State College. Design commenced in July with LEO A DALY leading architectural, civil, interior, structural and fire protection design services. Confluence is providing landscape architecture services, and Advanced Engineering Systems is providing mechanical, electrical and plumbing design services. Sampson Construction is the construction manager.

Upgrades, now in design, include five new buildings, which will house practice fields for a variety of sports, including softball, baseball and football. New gymnasia will add two courts for sports such as basketball and volleyball. This project will also add a new weight room, golf simulators, athletic treatment and training, locker rooms and a nutrition bar. Spectators will enjoy access to new concessions and public restrooms.

The design phase follows a yearlong planning phase, during which LEO A DALY led stakeholder outreach with students, faculty and administration, to identify high-value opportunities to enhance campus recreation and team sports. At a cost of $14.6 million, this investment represents the school’s largest construction project in 155 years.

After surveying students and hosting more than a dozen charrettes, LEO A DALY led development of a formal Program Statement, which details the design and functional requirements for PSC’s new facilities. The Program Statement has helped the school secure $10.6 million in funding from the state government and college fund dedicated to construction projects.

Known as Project ROAR (Renewed Opportunities for Activity and Recreation), these campus enhancements will relieve over-booked spaces in the existing Al Wheeler Activity Center. Despite challenging and hilly topography near the Missouri River, the design will blend with PSC’s Thousand Oaks Arboretum campus, adding sidewalk and shade trees. Paved entry plazas will welcome visitors to the new buildings. Parking lots and access roads to playing fields will also be upgraded and adorned with branding elements that assist in wayfinding.

A new, 6,300 SF indoor practice dome for baseball and softball will modernize athlete experiences while accommodating practice in any weather. Support buildings will house lockers, athletic training, and office and conference space for coaches. The largest building, an 80,000 SF air-supported structure, will expand access for everyone on campus to advanced fitness and recreation opportunities. The extensive planning process prior to design led to features and programming tailored to the needs of athletes and non-athletes alike.

“Whether students and faculty want to participate in morning yoga, collegiate sports or intramurals, they will enjoy experiences designed to address whole-person physical wellbeing,” said LEO A DALY Project Manager Erin Froschheiser.

For more information, visit the PSC project page.

 

 

 

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