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The Architectural Offices has been offering the highest level of architectural design, interior architecture and space planning in Omaha since 1981.

Omaha is home to some of the country’s most prominent architectural firms and we are honored to be in their company. But, we are different. And it is our steadfast belief that our commitment to the unconventional, to being hands-on while seeing the big picture, and to solving complex problems by asking the right questions and actively listening, is what will yield the best work and continue to set us apart.

10/09/2026

We are honored to announce that the water play area at Sofia’s Play Garden, the Children’s Garden at the Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, has won an international Leading Edge Award at the 2026 World Waterpark Association Awards Program this week in Las Vegas. The Hager Family Springs looks to the iconic Nebraska wandering waterways for design inspiration. As the jury noted, “Inspired by the region’s rivers and waterways, the attraction encourages children to explore how water moves and shapes the landscape. Manual water pumps, buildable wooden dams, streams, rockscapes and interactive controls allow guests to manipulate the flow of water”. It is especially humbling to receive the Leading Edge Award alongside the other 2026 massive waterpark projects in Saudia Arabia, Colorado, Brazil, and two different projects in Vietnam.

Matt Schafer at AO was the lead designer on the project, Bill Stott was the Architect of Record, Waters Edge Aquatic Design was the water park engineer, and Vrana General Contractors were the general contractor for Sofia’s Play garden.

Photos by Tom Kessler

Lauritzen Gardens
Vrana General Contractors
Waters Edge Aquatic Design

09/17/2026

Happy National Guacamole Day (yesterday)! Any day you have tacos, chips, salsa, and guacamole is a good day!

AO Omaha
Blair Freeman

08/25/2026

What a beautiful day for a site visit. The boardwalk surface is all in at the Lauritzen Gardens Woodland Flyway. There is still a ton of work to do, but the first glimpse of the new accessible pedestrian walkway onto the formal gardens is stunning. The views into the garden as the boardwalk hugs the loess hillside are spectacular, allowing guests to see the formal gardens from above.

Lauritzen Gardens
Kiewit
York Bridge Concepts

08/18/2026

Work is progressing on the historic renovation of the Motor Inn Garage Building, at 3323 Leavenworth. The building was built in 1917 as an automotive repair garage, but most in Omaha know it as the site of the Daily Record, Renovation is uncovering the original clerestory skylights and opening the original windows, transoms. an overhead door opening on Leavenworth Street. The building is being renovated for a single-tenant user and work is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Dicon Construction is the general contractor, TD2 is the structural engineer, and ETI is the mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineer on the project. Melissa Dirr Gengle at HRG Inc supplied the historical research for the property.

Oak Investment Real Estate
Dicon Corp
Thompson, Dreessen & Dorner, inc. (TD2)
Historic Resources Group

07/24/2026

Golden Spike moment at the Lauritzen Gardens! Construction of the Woodland Flyway, the new accessible pedestrian path from the Visitor Center into the formal gardens, has been under construction up in the forested hillside for several months. The elevated boardwalk section was built by York Bridge Concepts from both sides, meeting in the middle. And today that connection was made!

It’s going to be an incredible experience walking high up through the trees to enter the garden this fall when it opens to the public.

Lauritzen Gardens

07/23/2026

The Scott Tent and Awning building at 1501 Howard is almost done and should be ready for occupancy in early September. Built in 1893 as the P G Karbach Carriage Factory, the building was purchased in 1898 by George Joslyn for his western Newspaper Union. Western News moved in 1917, and AC Scott purchased the building for his Tent and Awning Factory. Scott perfected and patented the modern parachute, in collaboration with the Balloon School at Fort Omaha.

The renovation will include 16 apartments with parking in the basement and two retail bays on the street level.

The project developer is Clarity Development Company, the Structural Engineer is TD2, Mechanical/Electrical Engineers are Morrissey Engineering, the Civil Engineer is RW Engineering, and the General Contractor is Lueder Construction.

07/20/2026

Friday Matthew Schafer took trip out to Rapid City to accept TWO Honor awards at the 2026 Nebraska/Dakotas Chapter ASLA conference. Sophia’s Play Garden won an Honor award in the Built Category, while the Woodland Flyway received an Honor Award in the Unbuilt Category – both at Lauritzen Gardens here in Omaha. We are honored and humbled, especially when reading the judge’s comments:

Sofia’s Play Garden
~Great attention to detail with the use of natural elements to stimulate children’s imagination. The incorporation of bright colors and a variety of activities effectively captures the attention of younger kids through playful design. I would love to experience the water play space firsthand.
~This is a play area that I want to go to! It is truly a unique application of integrated play options
~So much play was packed in but it also has a good flow and doesn’t feel overwhelming. Great job and lovely drawings! I want to visit this site ASAP.
~Really ambitious and well executed children’s garden. Balances play, planting, accessibility, and art surprisingly well. Feels joyful without becoming chaotic.
~Great graphics and an even better outcome. Looks like a fun park for the kids and a great design.

Woodland Flyway
~I really appreciate the hand-drawn concepts—it’s refreshing to see this traditional approach in today’s digital era. A great enhancement project.
~The environmental considerations seem to drive the design which is great to see!
~The sketches are beautiful, and I love how you illustrated the bird inspiration along the path.
~The accessibility improvements and ecological sensitivity work hand-in-hand rather than competing with one another. Strong experience-focused design throughout.
~This one gets high praise from me just because of the black and white difference between the existing conditions and the images of the revitalized streetscape. I hope it gets built someday.

06/19/2026

Sorry if we didn’t answer the phone this afternoon. We were celebrating Keith’s 50th birthday - AND watching team USA beat the Aussies at the World Cup. USA! USA! USA!

05/05/2026

Happy Cinco de Mayo! AO + Blair Freeman Taco Tuesday celebration.

04/20/2026

We are very excited to share that last Friday we received a Merit Award from the Central States chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects for Sofia’s Play Garden, the children’s garden at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha. Matt Schafer, the lead designer, did an amazing job of creating a play area for young children that is as educational as it is fun.

Our favorite quote from one of the jury members:
“This makes me want to be a kid again! There are a lot of playgrounds out there, but few as engagingly fun and inviting as this. Well done on the use of color and form to create what looks like a great place to spend the afternoon. What’s really nice to see is that you all have mixed whimsy and playful, with nice landscape architecture details that didn’t have to be used, such as the separate pours wavy walls. Thank you for creating a playground space where it’s clear you all gave a s**t, and probably had fun doing it!”

Thank you to an amazing team of designers, engineers, contractors, and of course a mission driven owner.

Address

4610 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE
68132

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14025513400

Website

http://www.aoomaha.co/

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