The College of Dentistry modernization project focused on renewing outdated academic and support spaces for the University of Nebraska Medical Center to better serve contemporary teaching, research, and clinical education. The multi-year, multi-phase effort modernized classrooms and upgraded the auditorium with new finishes and technology to support evolving instructional needs while meeting current ADA requirements. Work spanned multiple building levels and was carefully sequenced to maintain operations within an occupied clinical environment.
Level 1 improvements included renovated classrooms and assembly space, new conference and testing rooms, huddle spaces, IT and open office areas, student and staff lounge spaces, research labs, and an anatomy classroom. Restrooms were fully replaced, and stair handrails and guardrails were upgraded for safety and code compliance. Level 2 renovations focused on updated office spaces, completing a comprehensive modernization of the facility.
The project required a high level of coordination and adaptability, including replacing windows while safely managing PCB-contaminated sealants, upsizing and rerouting roof drains through multiple building levels, and closely coordinating with both the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and UNMC to minimize disruption. When a ceiling showed signs of imminent failure, crews mobilized overnight to secure the structure and protect occupants—demonstrating the proactive problem-solving and responsiveness required to deliver complex upgrades in an active academic and clinical setting.
