College of Architecture helps Kimball prepare for population boom

Facing a boom that may double its current population of 2,300, the community of Kimball, Nebraska, has joined forces with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s College of Architecture to explore strategies and visions for growth.

During its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, Kimball’s population surged to 3,500 residents to support an oil and gas boom, as well as the presence of a military installation. The town’s population has since declined by more than 30%. Recent developments, including the expansion of a major employer and an anticipated $86 billion upgrade to a U.S. Air Force base, promise to deliver new growth, spurring demand for housing, business development, community amenities and entertainment options.

Fourth-year students in the College of Architecture, led by faculty Nate Bicak and Steve Hardy, are working with Kimball residents and leaders to create a sustainability plan and design concepts for the town’s growth. The project aims to meet current and future needs while keeping Kimball’s distinctive character. Stakeholders also want to put plans in place to retain part of the new population after the boom, ensuring long-term stability and growth.

“Nebraska Extension brought this collaboration opportunity to our attention, recognizing Kimball’s need for a proactive response to the projected population boom,” said Hardy, associate professor of architecture.

The opportunity for immersive engagement began with informational meetings, followed by a site visit in which students toured the town, interacted with residents and gathered insights on community priorities.

“By engaging directly with the community, we gained a deeper understanding of the town’s unique needs, challenges and aspirations,” said Oscar Avila, a senior architectural studies major.

The studio divided its efforts into project areas for further development:

• Downtown revitalization and wellness and activity centers: These studio concepts, shaped by ongoing development and community feedback, will be presented to Kimball residents at the end of the semester for consideration;
• Wheat Growers Hotel project: A historic landmark, the hotel was identified as a prime candidate for adaptive reuse. Students are exploring ways to revitalize the building to attract both visitors and new residents;
• Downtown revitalization: Another team is focused on downtown revitalization, with observations revealing only about 60% occupancy in the area. The team’s proposals include adaptive reuse, landscape improvements and space development aimed at enhancing local commerce and community activities; and
• Wellness and activity centers: With residents expressing a need for accessible wellness and recreational facilities, a student team is designing concepts for a community activity center. The center would provide multiuse spaces, including a gym, to support wellness programs and community gatherings.

While housing was another area of interest, stakeholders indicated that current developments, including a new 110-unit project, will likely meet that demand.

“This collaboration has been an invaluable learning experience for our students, who worked closely with local stakeholders like the mayor, police chief, city council members and others,” said Bicak, associate professor of interior design. “The project allowed students to practice participatory design, incorporating community feedback into tangible design solutions that address real-world needs in a small-town context.”

The partnership has given students the opportunity to design for a real community.

“In previous studios, our projects revolved around fictional clients, but Kimball is very real, and its residents deserve genuine, innovative solutions,” said Monica Samaniego, a senior interior design major.

Zachary Irene, a senior architectural studies major, agreed.

“This project has shown me how thoughtful design can create positive change, and I’m excited to be a part of that transformation,” he said.

The collaboration is part of Bicak and Hardy’s Assist Studio, which works with community stakeholders across Nebraska to help frame a problem or issue to be addressed by design. For the last six years, the studio has worked to help numerous rural communities, including Valentine and Wayne, Nebraska, explore housing and economic revitalization solutions.

“This kind of engagement and conversation with the students and the pre-professional exploration helps a city or a developer home in on what's important to them for a project and their community,” Hardy said. “We are often an incubator of ideas, which communities can then carry forward.”