LOCATION
Omaha, Nebraska

AREA
89,000 GSF

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Learning Connector Hub building serves as the dynamic core of the South Omaha campus of Metropolitan Community College, the largest community college in Nebraska.

The Learning Connector Hub provides classroom space, computer laboratories, learning laboratories, faculty offices, café/food court, commons area, and other student service functions. The Connector building is a physical link between the existing Mahoney and ITC Buildings, as well as to a new branch of the Omaha Public Library. It also created a new “spine” on the south side of the campus, forming the nucleus for a new pedestrian mall that serves as a “gateway” to the surrounding community.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• LEED Silver Certification.
• Alvine Engineering designed the addition of a chilled water plant to serve the Connector and the neighboring public library facility.
• Packaged air handling units located in mechanical equipment rooms provide primary air conditioning and ventilation. Each unit includes chilled water coils, heating water preheat coils, filters, and plenum-type circulating fans.
• Domestic hot water is produced by gas-fired water heaters located in mechanical room space. The system includes a recirculation system to ensure hot water availability at each fixture.
• A wet-pipe sprinkler system was provided for all new construction. The main service is sized to allow required flows at acceptable pressures without a fire pump. A dry-pipe system protects any areas subject to freezing.
• A fully addressable fire alarm system, including manual pull-stations, smoke detectors, and audiovisual annunciation, was provided according to code.
• Incoming campus fiber optic and copper cables were extended from the building entrance location and terminated and protected in the new telecommunications equipment room.

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