Livable Omaha and the UNL College of Architecture announce “OurStory” exhibition, opening December 16 in Omaha
Design exhibition features an infill housing and accessory dwelling concept that addresses the growing need for both workforce and aging-ready housing in the Omaha metro
Interior rendering of the Benson House. Courtesy of FACT.
Omaha and Lincoln, Neb.—The “OurStory: Creating Aging-Ready Housing” exhibition by the University of Nebraska College of Architecture’s FACT Studio, runs December 16 through January 10 at Dundee Bank’s Benson Branch at 6073 Maple Street in Omaha. “OurStory” takes aim at the housing crisis and silver tsunami with a new concept for infill housing and accessory dwellings in the Omaha metro and beyond.
What:
“OurStory: Creating Aging-Ready Housing” exhibition
When:
Dec. 16 through Jan. 10
Exhibition open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 16 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Opening reception and design reveal
Friday, Jan. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Public reception and gallery talk featuring professor and architect Jeffrey L. Day, FAIA
Where:
Dundee Bank’s Benson Branch at 6073 Maple St in Omaha
All events are free and open to the public.
The exhibition is made possible with support from Partners for Livable Omaha, Actual Architecture Co., Build Your Fortress, Dundee Bank, JE Dunn Construction, Lamp Rynearson, Humanities Nebraska, Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and Blair Freeman.
Rendering of the Corby House (left) and Benson House at 58th and Corby Streets in the Benson neighborhood in Omaha. Courtesy of FACT.
The exhibition focuses on a new housing product, also called OurStory, that was designed during this fall semester by 13 graduate-level architecture students who are members of FACT (Fabrication And Construction Team). FACT is a collaborative student designbuild studio at the University of Nebraska College of Architecture. The project is under the mentorship of Jeffrey L. Day, FAIA, Professor of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and founding partner of Actual Architecture Company.
The all-electric, space-efficient concept is rooted in universal design and features structural insulated panels (exterior walls and roof), heat pumps and prefabricated components to reduce construction time, boost building energy efficiency and realize affordability.
The first two variations of the OurStory designs are known as the Corby House and the Benson House. Corby features a 774-square-foot, 2 bedroom layout. Benson features a 618-square-foot, efficiency layout.
The UNL students focused on creating an aging-ready prototype that fills the gap in the local market for designs that are constructible, financeable, environmentally sustainable and empowering for Omahans who are ready to build now. These small home designs can function as standalone small homes, accessory dwelling units to existing homes, or as part of dense cluster communities.
“We are designing for the needs of an aging population because it benefits every person and every neighborhood to consider older adults an asset, and to keep seniors close to the communities and people they love for as long as possible,” said Jessica Scheuerman, founder and executive director of Partners for Livable Omaha. “Everyone wins if we have more options for aging-ready ADUs and infill housing. The designs also fit the needs of many other demographics—including middle-income workers.”
Baby boomers are now largely entering into retirement years. People aged 65 and older constitute about 12% of the metro area’s population. By 2050, they will make up nearly 16% of the region’s population, according to the MAPA Long Range Transportation Plan 2050.
According to the 2021 study Housing Affordability in the Omaha and Council Bluffs Area, there is a substantial demand for affordable and workforce housing. Many middle-income renters are would-be homeowners, representing pent-up demand for quality starter homes in the $150,000 to $225,000 range.
Members of FACT at the College of Architecture. Bottom row (left to right) Carl Williams, Nico Forte, Sreemedha Chintamadaka, Machelle Cooper, Paulina Garcia, Luke Heidenreich. Top row (left to right) Riley Jarosz, Michael Rieder, Oz Eckhorn, Malik Darwish, Alex Martino, Trent Weatherwax, Gavin Stelling. Courtesy of FACT.
Recent changes to the City of Omaha’s ADU ordinances make it easier to build ADUs. The timing is right to explore small houses and ADUs as part of the solution for the housing crisis.
In August 2024, Livable Omaha, an Omaha-based nonprofit, began working in partnership with FACT to spearhead this project. Livable Omaha is planning a prototype build in Omaha’s Benson neighborhood for 2025.
“Affordable housing occurs at the intersection of policy, finance and design,” said Day. “The focus of this exhibition is on design, informed by the other two realms. OurStory argues for a repair of the single-family house to address housing needs in existing neighborhoods, vacant odd-lots, new dense developments, to accommodate aging in place, and to uncover new opportunities for the home.”
Interior rendering of the Corby house. Courtesy of FACT.
The OurStory exhibit explores project design goals and the process used to create the broadly applicable housing system.
“From designing with older adults in mind to integrating emerging construction methods to embracing energy efficiency, we’re thinking holistically about this system,” said Scheuerman.
The OurStory design uses structural insulated panels (SIPs), a high-performance building system that is strong, energy-efficient and cost-effective.
“We at Build Your Fortress are very excited to team up with Livable Omaha and the College of Architecture,” said Phillip Henderson, Director of Business Development of Build Your Fortress, an exhibition sponsor. “The importance of teaching eco-friendly ways of building is pertinent in the future of construction. Students are at the forefront of helping solve our nation's housing crisis along with learning greener and more sustainable ways of building. We are proud to showcase their skills alongside our product and look forward to seeing their bright futures.”
This is the second collaboration between Livable Omaha and FACT. In 2022, the nonprofit and university partnered to create Omaha Mobile Stage. The mobile community venue provided free arts enrichment and entertainment to more than 23,000 visitors at 28 free events in the metro in 2024.
University of Nebraska College of Architecture’s FACT Studio students Malik Darwish (left) and Michael Rieder working on a full-scale building mockup for the OurStory exhibit. Courtesy of FACT.
University of Nebraska College of Architecture’s FACT Studio student Machelle Cooper working on the Corby House model. Courtesy of FACT.
###
About Partners for Livable Omaha
Founded in 2020, Partners for Livable Omaha is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the livability of communities throughout the Omaha metro. For more information, visit www.livable.org.
For more information about FACT, visit www.factlab.org
For more information about Actual Architecture Co., visit www.actual.ac
For more information about UNL College of Architecture, visit https://architecture.unl.edu
