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DLR Group assisted every step of the way in this process
and helped pass the $340 million dollar bond issue that would
catapult this vision into a reality. Of the total bond issue, $161
million was dedicated to creating the new Pinnacle Bank Arena,
which opened ten years after the initial meeting.
The arena’s interiors concept emerged from a comment made
by Chris Beutler, mayor of Lincoln. The mayor said he wanted
this to be “the state’s arena.” Tasked with that goal, DLR’s de-
sign team researched the geographical significance of Nebraska
and, specifically, Lincoln as the state’s capital. The Platte River
emerged as an important factor in selecting Lincoln as the state
capital. The patterns and motifs carried out in the Pinnacle Bank
Arena reference the Platte’s braided river features.
With so many interior spaces to design in this facility, each
needed to stand out while remaining unified with the spirit of
the overall building, so the colors in the project were directly
tied to the exterior metal panels—zinc and copper. The neutral
tones allow the facility to transform with each game, concert or
performance. The braided river concept guided DLR’s design
team through each finish selection, which is generally how
colors are selected at DLR Group—a concept is identified, and
all the colors, materials, graphics and textures are developed
to support it.
The flooring varies from focal point to a supporting role,
depending on the space. The highly public lobbies definitely
called for a focal point on the floor. The south lobby, a four-
story atrium space that can be viewed from all levels, is a
main entrance to the facility. For this space, DLR created a
powerful braided river design with five-color epoxy terrazzo.
The terrazzo allows for infinite patterns and colors, while also
I
n late 2004, DLR Group worked with the city of Lincoln, Nebraska to achieve its
vision of a new destination development in the West Haymarket area of the city. This
property encompassed railroad tracks, contaminated soil, a large post office and other
industrial buildings. What the city envisioned, however, was something very different, a
game changer—new restaurants, shops, bars, hotels and, at the center of it all, a new arena
to house University of Nebraska Husker basketball, concerts and events.
FORUM
'(6,*1(5
Q By Melissa Lindberg
Design meets durability in DLR
Group’s Nebraska arena project.
In DLR’s design of the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, the firm chose epoxy terrazzo by Terrazzo
and Marble Supply, installed by Grazzini Brothers, in a custom design. Photo by Paul Brokering Photography.

3. ) 2 8 6 0D ZZZÁRRUGDLOQHW
providing the durability and low main-
tenance needed for a high-traffic public
space. Precast terrazzo base was utilized
in this case, rather than cast in place, to
reduce installation time.
The braided river terrazzo design car-
ries into the north lobby as well. The
pattern engages the wall materials and
integrates with the three-dimensional
Founders’ Wall and nine-monitor Inter-
net Protocol Television (IPTV) display.
This is where program advertisements
are made, along with real-time broad-
casting of events taking place in the
seating bowl. On the concourse levels,
terrazzo was not in the budget, though
the durability and maintenance needs
were the same. DLR specified dyed and
polished concrete for these spaces.
With so many hard surface floors in
high traffic areas, acoustics needed to
be addressed, so DLR’s design team
created acoustical panel ceiling clouds
in the lobby spaces and partitioned off
openings into the spectator seating bowl
with heavy velour black theater curtains,
which can be drawn to prevent noise
spilling from the concourse and conces-
sion area into the performance space.
To support the “state’s arena” goals,
concessions were themed after promi-
nent Nebraska geography or locally signif-
icant landmarks. Chimney Rock Cantina,
Capital Grill and Haymarket Place were a
few of the names settled on after months
of brainstorming and working with the
owner’s concession consultant. In the
end, each concession front featured its
own materials that relate to the landmark.
Unique concession fronts increase food
sales, which was the determining factor
in creating such memorable themes.
Hospitality areas in the facility called
for a warmer, more intimate atmosphere,
which was achieved on the floor with
carpet tiles. On the Premium Suite level,
a custom Interface carpet with a wave
design was used in the Loge Lounge—
the custom glass mosaic-clad pizza oven
at the Loge Bar is another key feature
in this space. Many people automatically
think hard surface flooring should be used
in food areas, but carpet tiles provide the
warmth, sound absorption and aesthetic
properties without sacrificing in terms of
maintenance. The solution-dyed yarns
and custom capabilities of Interface car-
pet allowed DLR to achieve exactly the
Seen from above, the south lobby showcases the terrazzo installation’s abstract braided river motif,
inspired by the Platte River. Photo by Lawrence Anderson Photography.
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4. 76 ZZZÁRRUGDLOQHW ) 2 8 6 0D
desired look with the required performance. The colorfastness
of the carpet and the ease of cleaning with hot water extraction
ultimately sold the client on this approach.
The suites were designed with long-term aesthetic appeal
and performance in mind. Many arena suites are specified
with wall-to-wall carpet with stadium seats in the front and a
few lounge chairs in the back, but DLR Group’s design instead
placed a high top hammered copper community table in the
center of the action with a secondary soft seating zone near the
suite entrance. Niches were designed into the walls to house
the TVs and to prevent light bleed from the TVs into the lower
bowl during a performance blackout. A wall of cherry cabinetry
with integrated counter induction burners and a hammered
copper ice bin creates the perfect frame for the suite holder’s
company branding.
The majority of the suite flooring is 12”x24” ceramic tile
called Concrete by Interceramic. The monolithic design al-
lows the carpet inset under the soft seating area to really pop.
DLR’s design team searched for a carpet with a large scale pat-
tern to provide a plush, beautiful
rug application for the space and
found Energy, a design by Atlas
Carpet Mills. The advantage of us-
ing ceramic tile with a carpet inset
is that the suites can be updated
with a simple carpet refresh and
new paint in ten years. The ceramic
tile has a classic look and will last
for decades, and that translates to
a cost savings to the owner over
the life of the building.
As a designer, there is a lot to con-
sider when making flooring selec-
tions for public sports facilities. Also,
when the facility is over 450,000
square feet, practically every floor-
ing type imaginable could be used.
For Pinnacle Bank Arena, ease of
maintenance was at the forefront of
each flooring selection. How durable
is it? How often will it need replacement? What is
required in terms of process and staff to maintain
the flooring and keep it looking its best? The
range of products used at Pinnacle Bank Arena
is not overwhelming: terrazzo, polished concrete,
carpet, porcelain tile, static dissipative tile and
miles of sealed concrete in back-of-house areas.
The philosophy is simple—make it easy on the
end user.
DLR Group has sophisticated clients with
their own expertise and maintenance pro-
grams, and DLR design teams will generally
make suggestions and arrive at conclusions
together with the clients. Many times, DLR’s
designers will walk away from these conversa-
tions with new insight on flooring struggles and
successes, and that knowledge and ex-
perience is applied to ensure successful
projects and happy clients. Q
THE AUTHOR
Melissa Lindberg, IIDA, LEED BD+C, is
an award winning interior designer and
works in DLR Group’s Omaha office.
She is a registered interior designer in
Iowa and Texas and has over 11 years
of experience designing for the sports and education sec-
tors. In addition to her work on the Pinnacle Bank Arena,
her projects include Creighton University Championship
Center, TD Ameritrade Ball Park and University of Houston
Basketball Training Facility. Lindberg is heavily involved in
DLR Group’s Performance Management Team and Profes-
sional Development Grant programs. She is also a wife and
mother to three young children.
The Club Lounge features Stacked, a J+J/Invision carpet tile alongside Concrete, a porcelain
tile by Interceramic. Photo by Lawrence Anderson Photography.
In the Pinnacle Bank Arena suites, inset carpet is framed by Interceramic’s Concrete porcelain tile. Photo
by Kurt Johnson Photography.