Omaha Mobile Stage and the Art Chapel win AIA Central States Design Awards

FACT & Actual Architecture Co. are thrilled to announce two awards that the in the 2025 AIA Central States Region Design Awards (small projects category: Omaha Mobile Stage won an Merit Award and The Art Chapel won an Honor Award.

Omaha Mobile Stage is a creative placemaking project designed and built by the FACT as a portable stage serving as a cultural and economic catalyst in public spaces and main streets throughout the Omaha metropolitan area. A converted box truck serves as a fully functional mobile small-capacity venue bringing all forms of performing arts to communities and schools. The team transformed a used 18’ diesel box truck into an all-inclusive mobile, expandable stage with multi-functional curtain, built-in storage, sound and lighting equipment, battery power, and acoustic treatments. All elements of a versatile small venue are integrated with an overriding, unique aesthetic capable of being set up by 2 stagehands in less than 30 minutes. FACT worked with many partners and collaborators, including the project sponsor Partners for Livable Omaha, to realize this important project of the City of Omaha. Visit the project page for more information.

Resulting from a collaboration with Plain Design Build, The Art Chapel is a studio for adults to cultivate their creativity through art and craft instruction, supporting public events in a community with few cultural outlets. The 1873 building, Lincoln, Nebraska’s first church, has been transformed from a neglected space into an asset for a struggling neighborhood.

By adopting a “making nothing” strategy, the project explores architecture’s ability to disarm the viewer through apparent simplicity and directness. The transformation of the simple wood-framed structure is, at first glance, perceptually mute. The primary design acts are subtractive – removing material and abstracting the building to highlight generic qualities and simple beauty. A large rolling wall replicates the original façade and opens the Art Chapel to the community both literally and figuratively. Inspired by the subtle way members of the community are invited to gather for services informally in the car park and on the church steps, the rolling wall allows the entire building to be an extension of the public realm. The form of street elevation opening is then repeated in the back of the main, multi-use room, with a new plywood cabinet wall. Custom details and furniture complete the function-driven design and rugged materiality of the renovated building. The Art Chapel is owned and operated by the F Street Neighborhood Church in Lincoln.

The AIA Central States Region is a designation by AIA National for the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Awards are given to project within the region, or designed by architects based in the region. The 2025 awards were administered by AIA Iowa.

FACT worked with many partners and collaborators to design and build both exceptional projects. Visit the Omaha Mobile Stage and The Art Chapel FACT project pages details and images.

Photographs by Walker Pickering (top) and Colin Conces (bottom)