2024 AIA Central States Region Design Award Recognition
Actual Architecture Company won two awards from the AIA Central States this year:
1. Actual Architecture Company, in partnership with Reddymade, won a Merit Award in the 2024 AIA Central States Region Design Awards for St. Mary’s Campus opposite the Nebraska State Capitol Building in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The expanded campus—with the historic church building as its centerpiece—is envisioned as both a place of worship and a vibrant center of community life. A new mixed-use building replaces two derelict existing structures, breathing new life into the area. The building strategically pulls back from the urban edge to reveal the church and focus views toward the Capitol, creating a balance of past and present architectural elements. The gently curved facade cradles a semi-circular public plaza and event space, inviting people to gather, celebrate, and reflect. This thoughtfully designed outdoor area serves as a versatile venue for community events, performances, and informal gatherings.
The narrow, west end of the four-story building is anchored by a chapel and occupied by the rectory offices and clergy apartments. This section provides a serene and dedicated space for spiritual leadership and support. Meanwhile, the east end serves the public with a cafe/wine bar, lobby, and family resource center on the ground floor, fostering social interaction and support. The second floor offers a multipurpose event space, ideal for community gatherings, workshops, and celebrations. The third level houses ministry and classrooms, supporting educational and spiritual development. The fourth floor is dedicated to incubator and tenant offices, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship within the community.
The new building is envisioned as a mass timber structure, showcasing sustainable practices. The curving fritted glass facade receives visitors with a large-scale image pattern generated by an artist from the local community. We hope to be able to post the project on our website soon.
jury comments:
“This project proposes a mixed-use building that will offer a new urban space framed by historic downtown buildings. We appreciated the contrast of the abstract gesture of the new façade to the church and find the relationship of the new public plaza to the urban environment, especially the historic church building, to be very strong. The structure is proposed to be mass timber, which we hope will be maintained. We look forward to seeing the development of this project.”
2. ActualAC also won a Citation Award for Unbuilt Architecture for the 24J Houses project in Lincoln, Nebraska. Project details can be found on the 24J Houses webpage.
The AIA Central States Region is a designation by AIA National for the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Awards are given to project within the region, or designed by architects based in the region.
