3 HDR Projects Honored in Fast Company’s 2024 Innovation by Design Awards
Now in its 13th year, Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards program celebrates the people and companies behind the world’s best design work, recognizing excellence in innovation, impact and aesthetics. Three HDR projects —The RiverFront Revitalization, Kiewit Luminarium and Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center Psychiatric Emergency Department — have been honored in the 2024 awards. Congratulations to our clients and team members on this impressive recognition.
RiverFront Revitalization
Winner, Urban Design (in collaboration with OJB Landscape Architecture)
The RiverFront Revitalization transforms three underutilized parks in Omaha, Nebraska, into a unified, amenity-rich open space anchored by the Missouri River. Thoughtful community engagement throughout the planning and construction phases helped transform the parks into vibrant, inclusive environments featuring both active and passive spaces for everyone. Notable features include a world-class playground, performance pavilions and sustainable infrastructure design elements that earned Nebraska’s first Envision Platinum award.
Kiewit Luminarium
Honorable Mention, Learning (in collaboration with the Exploratorium)
This innovative community space and STEM-focused learning environment in Omaha, Nebraska, is a hub for science, technology, engineering and math education and careers. The Luminarium offers hands-on, immersive exhibits designed to engage middle school students and the broader community, making STEM accessible and exciting for all, with features like a large-scale stellated icosahedron and bilingual exhibits to foster curiosity and inclusivity. Opened in April 2023, the Luminarium has already welcomed over 230,000 visitors and supports workforce development through its Luminator program, which engages diverse young adults as educators and community connectors.
Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center Psychiatric Emergency Department
Honorable Mention, Impact
This first-of-its-kind psychiatric emergency department in Virginia addresses the unique needs of patients experiencing mental health crises. Utilizing EmPATH strategies, the facility provides empathetic, timely interventions to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. It is designed to accommodate up to 20 patients and features specialized treatment zones, secure outdoor spaces and unobstructed visibility for the care team. The center’s thoughtful design and community partnerships establish a dignified, unprecedented experience for behavioral health patients in Virginia.
