Omaha by Design

05/12/2026

05/12/2026

04/17/2026

Explore the possibilities, shape what's next. We're so excited to bring Future Lab to life in May. Visit wemakeomaha.org/futurelab to learn more about how you can be involved with the Future Lab and be sure to visit it next month!

03/06/2026

Show off your space! Take part in Open Omaha by applying to be a featured venue.

Omaha by Design is seeking unique spaces, local businesses, cultural sites and everything in between to be featured at this year’s Open Omaha on Saturday, August 8th.

📍 Applications are open until Friday, April 3rd. Apply today at openomaha.org !

02/27/2026

We're proud to announce that Open Omaha is returning for its fifth year on Saturday, August 8, 2026!

Open Omaha is a one-day, all-access, city-wide open house. Omaha by Design invites you to step inside the spaces that make our city so special, from historic architecture to innovative work spaces to cultural icons.

📍 Interested in getting involved? Check out openomaha.org for information about participating as a featured venue.

02/03/2026

We Make Omaha wants to hear your thoughts! Check your mail for the orange postcard, and even if you haven't received it, you can still take the survey!

11/11/2025

We're still thinking about the LAURELS AWARDS! Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate the nominees and recipients during an evening dedicated to innovation in the built environment.

And the winners are....

✨ Access & Mobility Award: Beltline Trail
- Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, RDG Planning & Design, City of Omaha Parks & Recreation, Ehrhart Griffin & Associates, Vrana Construction Company

✨ Environment & Open Space Award: Adams Park
- Trails Have Our Respect, City of Omaha Parks & Recreation, International Mountain Bicycling Association

✨ Neighborhood Revitalization Award: EDGE District
- Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, Anna Bogler, Big Grove Brewery, Boyd Jones, City of Omaha, Daake, Greater Omaha Chamber, GreenSlate Development, Holland Basham Architects, Investors Realty, Inc., Koelbel Communities, LEO A DALY, Lund, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., Morrissey Engineering, Noddle Companies, NU System, Olsson, Opus, Park Omaha, Rainwood Development Partners LLC, Rathskeller, TD2, UNeMED, UNeTech, UNMC

✨ Young Urbanist Award: Crystal Sierra

✨ The Laurels Award, Omaha by Design’s highest honor: Dick & Mary Holland Campus – Omaha Performing Arts

This year, Omaha by Design also awarded Ree & Jun Kaneko the Spellman Civic Impact Award, named in honor of Omaha by Design’s founder Connie Spellman.

✨✨✨

The night wouldn't be the same without our sponsors:

Presented by Catalyst Design + Development Partners:
Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, Boyd Jones Construction, GreenSlate Development, Koelbel Communities

Visionary:
Emspace + Lovgren, HDR, Holland Basham Architects, Millwork Commons

City-Builder:
Baird Holm LLP, Blair Freeman, Cordia, DLR Group, Dundee Bank, Kiewit, Lamp Rynearson, Noddle Companies, RDG Planning & Design

Urbanist:
AO*, AOI, Buildertrend, BVH Architecture, C & W | The Lund Company, Downtown Omaha Improvement Association, Fullenkamp, Jobeun, Johnson & Beller LLP, Hoppe Development, Investors Realty Inc., JEO Consulting Group, LEO A DALY, Maggie & Mike McMeekin, Morrissey Engineering Inc., Oak Investment Real Estate, Olsson, OMNE Partners, Park Omaha, Pella Windows & Doors of Lincoln and Omaha, Keeline Building, Sullivan Development Company, TitleCore National, Union Omaha, Urban Village

10/09/2025

Congratulations to the 2025 LAURELS AWARDS nominees!

Access & Mobility Award
• Beltline Trail
• La Vista Active Mobility Plan
• Metro Flex
• Safe Streets for All

Environment & Open Space Award
• Adams Park
• Caden’s Corner & Walnut Hill Pocket Parks
• Lake Cunningham Development Trust
• Myott Park

Neighborhood Revitalization Award
• Bluestem Prairie
• EDGE District
• FIRST AVE’s Trail-Oriented Housing Development
• Leavenworth Corridor

Young Urbanist Award
• Crystal Sierra, Canopy South
• Jewel Rodgers, State Poet of Nebraska
• Kelechi Chibuikem, Metro Transit
• Ryan ZimmerMas, Spark CDI
• Sydney Embray, City of Omaha

Join us October 30th at Catalyst Omaha as we celebrate the people and projects shaping our metro in inspiring ways.

🌟 Learn more about the LAURELS AWARDS at omahabydesign.org/laurels

10/09/2025

Share your thoughts about the lighting along Abbott Drive!

We invite you to share your thoughts in our Abbott Drive Survey, a quick questionnaire exploring how residents and visitors feel about the decorative globe lights along Abbott Drive and their role in our community’s streetscape. It only takes a few minutes to let your voice be heard. Please click the link below to participate and help us shape a more welcoming and distinctive entrance to Omaha!

Take the survey: https://ow.ly/JfKM50X2mJ4

10/08/2025

Celebrate people-centered urban design! Join us on October 30th for the 2025 LAURELS AWARDS, Omaha by Design's signature awards show and annual fundraiser.

The LAURELS AWARDS stand to recognize the people and projects shaping our built environment in inspiring ways.

Presented by Catalyst Design + Development Partners (Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, Boyd Jones Construction, GreenSlate Development, and Koelbel Communities), the LAURELS AWARDS will be held at Catalyst Omaha— the region's premier innovation hub in the emerging EDGE District.

💫 Get your tickets at www.omahabydesign.org/laurels