February 14, 2003

Midwest National Park Service headquarters will move to Omaha's riverfront

onstruction is scheduled to begin next month on the latest addition to Omaha's new riverfront. A new regional Park Service building will be built just north of Rick's Cafe Boatyard. The three-level building will be constructed between Rick's and the planned $23.6 pedestrian bridge.

The current building at 1709 Jackson St. which houses the National Park Service regional headquarters, will probably be converted into a headquarters for Douglas County correctional programs. The federal government must first consider uses by other federal agencies and entities serving the homeless. County Commissioner Carol McBride Pirsch would like to see the building used for such services as community corrections, the victim-witness program, work release, drug court and other services. This would save the county more than $300,000 that it currently spends on rent.

The new glass-enclosed $12 million building will be developed by Noddle Development Company and Pacific Realty. The Leo A. Daly Company will be the architect and Kiewit Construction will 

build the structure. These same companies are currently working on the $291 million convention center and arena.

The Midwest headquarters serves 54 Park Service areas in 13 states. The new headquarters will be built on 5 acres that the city donated for the project. The federal government will lease the building for around $29 million over a span of 20 years.

Representatives from the Park Service say they envision the first floor to be open to the public with information displayed on park areas, a bookstore and an outdoor plaza that will connect to the riverwalk.

The building itself will be constructed using recycled building materials, solar panels, an efficient heating and cooling system, erosion control measures and landscaping that won't require watering. The project will receive the federal governments Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design designation.