Outdoor Adventures Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE
Construction Cost: $3.5 million
Area / Square Feet: 12,453
Occupancy Date: May 2014

Building the Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) was part of the overall student referendum to add, improve and enhance the current recreation facilities on campus. The OAC is the headquarters for adventure trips, academic and non-credit classes and activities, challenge course programming, outdoor gear rentals and the campus bike shop.

The palette of exterior materials is simple and cohesive with other buildings on campus while still providing a unique look to the OAC. The use of brick and stone as major elements helps define the programmatic components while tying them together with the introduction of glass and metal wall panels. Interior materials and detailing are intentionally rugged. Finish materials rely on particleboard, bold metal corner guards and metal wall base. The most predominant volume is that of the climbing center, which is lit in a way that makes it a beacon for visitors coming to campus from the north. There is an exterior patio area to the south of the facility with direct egress from the classroom. This allows those teaching a class to move straight into the outdoors for tent setup, camp stove training or other outdoor learning experiences.

The Outdoor Adventures Center was designed for LEED Silver-equivalent standards, and a major focus of the building is to promote bike commuting to campus through rental access to 22 bike lockers and shower facilities.