It’s an Honor
November 20, 2024
The Shirley Tyree Theater was bestowed an Architectural Honor Award by AIA Nebraska this year. Bravo to The Union for Contemporary Art and the entire project team!
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The Union for Contemporary Art
Social Change Through Art + Community
The Union for Contemporary Art “strives to unite artists and the community to inspire positive social change in North Omaha.” The Union took this vision to heart when they began their search for a larger facility in which to house their expanding program needs. They focused in on a vacant building in a prominent North Omaha location that was once a lively commercial and entertainment node. The new space is five times the size of The Union’s original home, allowing the organization to expand its program offerings.
Project Details
Location
Omaha, NE
Size
21,750 SF
Scope of Work
Renovation
Date of Completion
2016
Honors + Awards
2017 AIA Central States
Honor Award
2017 AIA Nebraska
Architectural Merit Award
2017 AIA Nebraska
Architectural People’s Choice Award
Over the years, it housed an auto repair shop; an agricultural supplier; a candy shop; a jazz club; and the offices of two African-American community leaders, dentist Craig Morris and doctor J.H. Hutten. Most recently, it was a workforce development office for a nonprofit agency.
“The APMA staff led our renovation team – helping to breathe new life into a building that has immeasurable cultural significance for our community and ensuring that it will stand to serve our community for another 100 years.”
Brigitte McQueen
Former Executive Director
The new space has allowed The Union to increase its capacity and ability to better serve its mission by creating opportunities for them to expand their youth mentoring programs from 15 to upwards of 80 children.
Enhance their artist residency program through upgraded studio facilities and broadening the program’s impact on the professional development of local artists.
The Union was able to promote North 24th Street as a growing arts and culture district by anchoring a multi-million investment into a first-class facility.
Photography by Dana Damewood
