Consultants outline progress, recommendations for Innovation Campus

The proposed Nebraska Innovation Campus will be a place where researchers, businesspeople and instructors will "live, work, learn and play" and capitalize on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's prime areas of research strengths in food, water and fuel -- among others.

At a briefing today to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, campus consultants Mary Jukuri of SmithGroup/JJR and Jay Noddle of Noddle Cos. together with university planners outlined progress, vision and recommendations, and preliminary directions at this stage of planning for Nebraska Innovation Campus.

Nearing the half-way point for planning, the consultants showed new conceptual drawings for the proposed public-private research campus at the former State Fair Park and outlined some recommendations and decision points from the consultants. Among them:

* The vision for the campus creates a sense of place with a "front door" image. The campus will link City and East campuses and provide an interdisciplinary and collaborative setting, using sustainable practices. Long-term development of the campus will evolve as partnerships develop. Full build-out of the plan could take 20-25 years.

* Nebraska Innovation Campus should incorporate facilities that allow people to live, work, learn and play on the campus.

* Initial development of the campus could be 100 acres, with additional land for parking, recreation and future expansion.

* Sustainable practices will be incorporated into the estimated 1.8 million square feet of building space.

* A renovated 4-H Building, or an "Innovation Commons," could become a central feature in the core of the campus. The proposed Innovation Commons should incorporate space for shared amenities, conference and seminar spaces, possibly a cafe for gathering and collaboration.

* In addition to university research and private/public partner space and the commons, the initial campus plan incorporates recreation and entertainment space, retail and services/hospitality areas, and residential living.

* Key research areas for UNL on which research partnerships could be based have been "asset mapped" as part of the business planning process. Food, fuel and water are some interdisciplinary and emerging themes, but the university and private industry collaborators could focus on any of the university's research areas.

UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said community leaders have been interviewed during the planning phase and the consultants report a great deal of support for the Innovation Campus concept exists.

The consultants and campus planners have until Dec. 1 to complete the fact-gathering and initial planning phase, and will report to the Nebraska Legislature their findings and recommendations on that date. Among ideas for the first tenants or buildings at the site is the proposed Agricultural Research Service building, and a companion UNL research building.

The ongoing progress of master planning and business strategy planning for UNL's Nebraska Innovation Campus is the topic for two open house sessions Sept. 10-11 at the East and City campus unions. Anyone interested in information and answers to questions about Nebraska Innovation Campus is welcome, and the sessions are free. They are 4:30-6:30 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Cottonwood Room of the Nebraska East Union, 37th Street and Center Drive; and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 11 in the Regency Room of the Nebraska Union, 1400 R St.

For more information about Nebraska Innovation Campus and to view the most up-to-date version of the plans, go to http://innovate.unl.edu.

The Nebraska Innovation Campus proposal launched Nov. 17, 2007, in response to the possible availability of the state fairgrounds. The main objective in creating the Nebraska Innovation Park concept plan is a vision for a site to expand university research and build private sector partnerships for the long-term economic benefit of all Nebraskans. With a modern economy based on innovation, many private-sector companies involved in agriculture, technology and other fields desire locations adjacent to or on a university campus. The concept plan includes a mix of existing and new construction to incorporate public and private research, retail, parking, multipurpose buildings, greenhouse and gardens, recreation and gathering areas.