Thompson, Dreessen & Dorner, Inc. (TD2) receives the highest honor in engineering excellence with the 2026 Grand Award. The Catalyst project transformed the long-abandoned Omaha Steel Works plant into a vibrant new center for innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. What was once a shuttered industrial facility is now a 170,000-square-foot hub for UNMC and its partners, serving healthcare start-ups, research initiatives, and local businesses. This adaptive reuse project presented extraordinary engineering challenges. TD2 provided structural solutions that balanced preservation and modernization — introducing two new interior floors within the historic shell, and adding two new additions, all while retaining and showcasing portions of the original steel mill structure. These visible remnants of Omaha’s industrial heritage now serve as striking architectural highlights, blending past and present in a way that is both functional and symbolic. Integrating modern systems into a century-old structure required creative detailing, rigorous analysis, and close coordination with the architect and construction team. TD2’s innovative approach allowed for flexible floor plates capable of supporting diverse future uses while meeting today’s stringent code and performance standards. The impact of the Catalyst extends far beyond the building itself. By reusing an existing structure, the project conserved resources, diverted significant demolition waste, and reduced embodied carbon. It has also become a cornerstone of the emerging EDGE District, generating economic development, creating jobs, and reinforcing Omaha’s commitment to healthcare innovation. Through its blend of technical ingenuity, adaptive reuse, and community impact, the Catalyst project exemplifies the power of structural engineering to reimagine the built environment and drive meaningful social and economic change.
