Press Release provided by Assemble Lincoln, released on April 2, 2024.

Lincoln, Neb. – Assemble Lincoln, Lancaster County’s standing committee overseeing the development of Lincoln’s Downtown Convention Center, is pleased to announce the selection of Populous, in collaboration with Clark & Enersen, as the architectural team for the project. Populous, renowned for its innovative and iconic designs in convention center architecture, emerged as the chosen firm after a rigorous evaluation process.

Following the issuance of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Conceptual Design services on February 8, Assemble Lincoln received responses from four esteemed architectural teams by the March 1 deadline. Among these submissions, the architectural team of Populous and Clark & Enersen presented a compelling vision for the convention center that resonated with the committee’s objectives and outlook for the project.

Senator Eliot Bostar, Chair of Assemble Lincoln, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to deliver a world-class convention center design.

“We are delighted with the caliber of all four respondent teams, reflecting both local talent and national expertise in convention center design,” Bostar stated. “Populous and Clark & Enersen’s appointment reaffirms the significance of this project and underscores its appeal to top-tier
design firms.”

The selection of Populous – Clark & Enersen marks a pivotal milestone in the development process, signaling the commencement of a deeper collaboration between the architectural team, Legends and Assemble Lincoln. This partnership will facilitate the refinement of the conceptual design and support crucial decisions regarding site selection and programmatic requirements.

Paula Portz, COO of Legends Global Planning, expressed satisfaction with the overall quality of responses received.

“The selection of the design architect represents a significant milestone in our efforts to establish a world-class convention center for Lincoln. We were pleased with the excellence of the responses collected during this process, which reinforces the project’s importance and its appeal to elite design firms, both locally and nationally,” Portz says. “Assemble Lincoln and Legends are eager to collaborate closely with Populous to develop the creative vision for Lincoln’s Convention Center.”

Assemble Lincoln and Legends remain committed to ensuring ongoing public engagement throughout the project’s lifecycle. The selection of Populous and Clark & Enersen marks a significant step forward in realizing the vision for Lincoln’s Downtown Convention Center, which will serve as a hub for community engagement, economic growth and cultural enrichment. A public introduction of the selected architecture team will occur in May.

For more information, contact Chris Whitney, Communications Coordinator, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Visit Lincoln, at (402) 436-2376 or cwhitney@lcoc.com.