Women in Architecture tour Dairy House and Empyrean Brewery

May 30, 2014

Last evening the ladies of Clark Architects hosted Nebraska Women in Architecture event for the month of May. The evening began with a tour of the on-going CAC project, The Dairy House complex. Formerly home to the Beatrice Creamery Company and Meadow Gold, The Dairy House consists of twelve building built between 1902 and 1985. 

Much of the historic buildings are awaiting renovations. But the varied state of construction allowed the women to take a glimpse into the buildings past. The first renovation to the complex, the main offices and production facility for Data Securities, was completed in the winter of 2014. The new spaces comprise of portions of the two building in the northwest corner of the block. A highlight of this renovation is the conversion of a former ice warehouse room into the main production facility for Data Securities.

The evening concluded with a tour of Empryean Brewery, including a beer tasting and pairing. The president of Telesis, the parent company of Empryean and Data Securites, led the tour and tasting which allowed for an inside look at the renovation process and expansion plans for Telesis.

North American Martyrs hosts Holy Hour for Diocese of Lincoln

May 23, 2014

On the evening of Thursday, May 24th North American Martyrs Parish in Lincoln, Nebraska hosted the Diocese of Lincoln's annual Holy Hour for those to Ordained to the order of priests and transitional deacons. The event, sponsored by St. Thomas Aquinas Church -- Newman Center, could not be held at the Newman Center due to construction. Therefore, North American Martyr's Parish graciously hosted the Holy Hour and reception that followed. The Holy Hour included Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament,  a reflection by Bishop Emertius Fabian Bruskewitz, Rosary, Compline, the Litany to St. John Vianney, and Benediction.

North American Martyrs was designed by principal Kevin Clark. Included in the 2004 project was the Church, parish hall, and addition to the school. The parish honors its eight patrons in their stained glass windows. Additionally, another American saint, Kateri Tekakwitha, is situated in a side shrine next to the Sanctuary.

It is always an honor to return to past projects and, as well, to gather with many of our clients and pray for the future priests of the Diocese of Lincoln. 

St. Thomas Bells Completed

May 9, 2014

The Verdin Company is proud to announce that the four bells for the St. Thomas Aquinas Church - Newman Center are ready for install. In honor of the bells completion, Verdin has put together the following video chronicling their manufacturing process. The video includes:  casting, breaking, cleaning, inscription of names, and ringing of the bells. 

Installation and blessing of the bells is set for June 2014.

St. Thomas Aquinas Church - Newman Center Updates

May 6, 2014

The construction site of St. Thomas Aquinas Church - Newman Center has seen a bustle of activity in the past month. With the erection of the steel frame of the building still ongoing, the building is taking shape and the bell tower is rising above the entire complex.

On April 12th, prior to the annual UNL Red-White Spring football game, the Newman Center along with Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity hosted an open house. The event began with lunch at the PKT Fraternity house. Tours of the Newman Center were provided by the Newman staff throughout the afternoon. Over 100 guests were able to view each floor of the new building. Even Bishop James Conley, Bishop of Lincoln, attended the open house, and along with the other guests, was shown first hand the new meeting rooms, offices, and residence.

Kevin Clark and Father Robert Matya presented at the Community Night after the 10pm Mass on April 24th. The presentation provided the students with an update on the building project and process. As a special surprise and highlight of the evening, the students were invited to sign the final beam which will be placed at the top of the crossing tower of the Church.

The decorative painting of the altar and ambo are still underway at Gold Leaf Studios in Washington, DC. The tabernacle portion of the altar has finally received painting including the inscription across the gradine of the altar. Taken from the first chapter of St. John's Gospel, the inscription reads "Et Verbum Caro factum Est et habitavit in Nobis et Vidimus Gloriam Ejus Gloriam Quasi Unigeniti a Patre Plenum Gratiae et Veritatis."

Finally, the baptismal font is complete and currently in the process of being shipped to Nebraska. 

Performing Arts & Architecture

April 29, 2014

Performing arts has been a cherished activity of Kevin Clark's since his junior high school and high school years at Lincoln East. The experiences he gained in theater, orchestra, and choir has helped to inform his design process. In particular, the opportunity to meld these activities of his youth with his profession of architecture through the design of multiple performing arts venues in his career. 

Southwest High School, Lincoln, NE

The first theater project embarked upon was a renovation to the main stage of the Lincoln Community Playhouse. Clark, along with architect Chris Beardslee, continued to expand their portfolio with the design of Lincoln Public School's North Star and Southwest High Schools. The two high schools, which employ a single design at two different locations, are the newest high schools in the Lincoln Public School system. Each was designed with a 600 seat modified Proscenium stage which includes a orchestra pit which can be converted to extra stage area, tension grid catwalk system, state of the art fly loft system,  large shop for set production, and separate dressing rooms for both male and female students. Included in the design was a black box theater which also functions as each school's technical theater classroom.

The next project came in 2009 for Lincoln's Southeast High School. The renovation to the school's theater, originally built in the 1950s, included an interior remodel, addition of motorized rigging, new lighting, new stage floor, orchestra pit, shop room, tension grid catwalk system, and a balcony. The addition of the balcony allowed for the 100 more seats to be added to the theater, increasing the capacity to 600. Also included in the renovation effort was improvements to the indoor air quality of the theater. 

Russell Hall, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

The most recent design work came from the University of Northern Iowa's School of Music, which instructs 90% of Iowa's music teachers. Russell Hall, which houses the School of Music on the Cedar Falls campus, underwent a renovation of the existing classrooms, offices, and performance hall. An 11,000 square foot building addition allowed for new performance classrooms, recording studio, and practice rooms. All of which create a state-of-the-art environment to educate future musicians and teachers.

*All projects commissioned and completed while at another firm.