omni in the news

gctc center for advanced manufacturing featured on nbc nightly news
March 11
Gateway Community and Technical College's new Center for Advanced Manufacturing was featured in a news segment by Tom Brokaw on NBC Nightly News March 1. The segment, part of a series called "America at the Crossroads," focused on how workers are retraining and retooling to learn the new advanced skills needed to succeed in today's high tech manufacturing industry. NBC highlighted the partnership between GCTC and MAG Industries which is providing workers with on-the-job training and classroom instruction through an apprenticeship program.

nku student union featured in Architectural Record

December 09

Featured in an Armstrong advertisement on the inside cover of the November issue of Architectural Record, the Northern Kentucky University Student Union designed by Omni Architects continues to receive national attention for its innovative and creative design. The ad states "the most sought-after academic institutions successfully blend long-standing tradition with unconventional thinking."

michael jacobs quoted in Architect
December 09
The Local Markets section of the December issue of Architect features photos of the University of Kentucky University Health Service building completed by Omni Architects in 2008. The article discussing the recent development in Lexington and the city's aspirations to balance new urban growth with its identity as "horse capital of the world" also includes a quote from Omni Principal and Vice President Michael Jacobs.

The article can be found on page 26 of the print edition or on the Architect website.

two omni projects featured in The Lane Report Market Review

October 09

The new University Health Service building at the University of Kentucky and the new Science Building currently under construction at Eastern Kentucky University received recognition in the 2009-2010 Market Review, an annual publication by The Lane Report released earlier this month. A photo of the University Health Service building appeared on page 11 in an article entitled "Growing Strong in the Bluegrass" that discusses many qualities that make the Bluegrass a special place to live, including its growing emphasis on research and technology and its impressive healthcare facilities. A photo of the EKU Science Building is featured on page 45 in conjunction with the article "Easy Access to Talent" discussing how higher education institutions benefit the state economy by providing a highly educated workforce.

nku student union receives 2009 AIA Kentucky Merit Award

October 09

Northern Kentucky University's new Student Union designed by Omni Architects was selected to receive a 2009 Merit Award from AIA Kentucky in August. The 158,000 SF facility opened in July 2008 and has since become a major recruitment tool for the university, serving as a center for many campus activities and student services.

The Student Union was one of 36 entries reviewed by the Jury, who awarded one Honor Award, three Merit Awards, and one Citation. The jury was comprised of four representatives from three Seattle-based firms: Kirsten Murray, AIA and Les Eerkes, AIA, of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects; Rick Mohler, AIA of Adams Mohler Ghillino Architects, and Grace Kim, AIA, of Schemata Workshop.

Jury comments about the project called it "obviously well designed and executed throughout. The placement of the building on a major circulation path is used to great effect, both activating the building and giving form to the pedestrian's experience. The building looks beyond its own program and acts to shape and create new exterior spaces for the campus. Programmatic uses take advantage of the site's sloped topography. The building engages the site and activates campus spaces at multiple locations. Subtle shifts in massing, material articulation and sunlit circulation areas give the building interest and character. It is well organized without being static. The LED lit tower creates an interesting and interactive new icon for the campus."

The awards were presented at the Honor Awards Banquet on October 2, 2009 during the AIA Ohio Valley Region Convention held at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Omni Vice President Michael Jacobs and Northern Kentucky University Director of Campus Planning Mary Paula Schuh received the award on behalf of the design team. The design team included the following:

Commonwealth of Kentucky Division of Engineering and Contract Administration - Owner and Project Manager
Brailsford & Dunlavey - Student Center Planner
Staggs & Fisher - MEP Engineer
Senler Campbell & Associates - Structural Engineer
Vivian Llambi & Associates - Site Designer
Ricca Newmark Design - Food Service Consultant and Interior Designer
Messer Construction - General Contractor

nku student union receives flooring award

June 09

Northern Kentucky University's Student Union continues to receive national attention, being named the winner in the Education category of the 2009 Starnet Design Awards. Since 2002, the Starnet Design Awards have recognized outstanding commercial interiors featuring innovative flooring products and technologies. Omni Architects was recognized along with AIC Contracting, Inc. for excellence in design and installation of Wausau terrazzo, Amtico tile, Milliken carpet, Daltile mosaics, and Durken broadloom throughout the building.

Awards are presented in eight different categories, including small and large corporate installations, healthcare, education, and hospitality and public spaces, as well as unique challenges, green projects and student achievement. Entries are judged based on the creative use of flooring, as well as the design concept and overall quality of the solution delivered to the client.

The distinguished panel of judges included: Maurie O’Neill, Designer/Partner, O2 Design, past publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, New York; Clara Igonda, Principal, Perkins + Will, Los Angeles; Adel Smith Chapman, Director of Interiors, Architects Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker (DWRB), San Diego.

northside library receives brick award

April 09

The Northside Branch of the Lexington Public Library, which opened in July 2008, received the only 2008 Brick Award of Honor from the Kentuckiana Masonry Institute on April 29, 2009. The award was presented at an awards luncheon hosted by KMI at the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville. Jury comments included: “very nice, clean detailing and the image really works to evoke the industrial/warehouse look. Excellent color selection, massing, and details...strong simple forms. Well organized for urban living; Simple materials are nicely detailed.”

omni first to be named AIA kentucky distinguished firm of the year twice

September 08

On its 100th anniversary, the American Institute of Architects, Kentucky selected Omni Architects as the 2008 Distinguished Firm of the Year. The annual award recognizes a member firm which, “through consistent leadership, vision and ability, has distinguished itself over the past ten years through design and implementation of works of architecture that enhance the quality of the environment.” Omni Architects is the only Kentucky firm to have received this distinction twice.

Omni also received two additional awards from AIA Kentucky this year including the only Honor Award presented this year for the University of Kentucky University Health Service and a Merit Award for the recently completed Veterans Administration Pharmacy Expansion. These AIA awards recognize works of architecture exhibiting design excellence and promoting public awareness and appreciation of the diversity, quality and scope of architecture in the Commonwealth. These awards are the highest professional honors bestowed upon Kentucky architects by their peers.