The redesign of Lincoln’s Centennial Mall is providing an updated entrance to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Andersen Hall.
The $9.6 million project is a complete redesign of the 15th Street walking mall that stretches from the Nebraska State Capitol building on K Street to UNL’s City Campus on R Street. Andersen Hall, home to UNL’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications, is on the Centennial Mall between Q and P streets.
The project has limited pedestrian access to the west entrance of Andersen Hall for the last two years.
“The completion of Centennial Mall will enhance Andersen Hall’s visibility because the (college) no longer will be hidden from view by brambles, wire fencing and a construction lot,” said Maria Marron, dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. “The mall will be a continuum of an aesthetically appealing walk by the college and other buildings.”
J.J. Yost, planning and construction manager for Lincoln’s parks and recreation department, said infrastructure work on the mall will be complete by mid-May.
“Right now, our main emphasis is to finish that block between Q and P streets,” Yost said. “Work on cutting and placing pavers is going on now. And, the contractor will start putting sod in as soon as it becomes available — probably around April 15.
“It’s been a long time planning and making progress, but the project is really starting to look like the pictures we’ve been showing people.”
Along with providing greater access to UNL’s Andersen Hall, the mall will also feature a variety of seating areas, fountains, wifi access, information about Nebraska history, and will meet American Disabilities Act standards.
“The fountains are going to be the big thing that catch peoples’ eye,” Yost said. “The one between Q and P streets will be the most playful, with water that shoots in arches.
“It will look like water is jumping around the space.”
That fountain will be located on the south end of the block. All of the fountains will be pondless, recirculating water below pavement.
Yost said the entire project, from major construction to final plantings, is scheduled for completion prior to the State of Nebraska’s 150th anniversary celebration in summer 2017.
“The mall is going to be the host of the celebration,” Yost said. “But, we plan to have the hardscape and landscape work pretty much completed this spring.”
For more information on the Centennial Mall project, click here.
