On Thursday, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents unanimously approved the program statement for the research component of the building that will serve as the cornerstone of UNMC’s new Saddle Creek Campus in Omaha.
The new facility – known as the CORE Building (Campus Operations and Research Excellence) – will enhance existing UNMC research environments, which are near capacity. Planned for the corner of Saddle Creek Road and Farnam Street, the building will support computer-based research and wet lab-based research for drug discovery, oncology research and other strategic research areas at UNMC.
“The project is a direct reflection of UNMC’s mission to deliver state-of-the-art education, research and health care to our community and nation,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD. “It also will include considerable amounts of research space for future leasing or campus growth, and a modest amount of income-producing ground floor retail space.”
Dr. Gold noted that the proximity to the Catalyst building – which will bring together UNMC’s UNeMed and UNeTech branches with biotech and technology startups – will make the CORE Building ideal for research that leads to product and drug collaboration and innovation.
Overall, the office and research facility will include:
- Two floors for administrative business functions, shared support space, shared amenity space and retail space;
- One floor to support computer-based research;
- Three floors for wet lab use; and
- Immediate proximity to a new parking facility.
The building is being designed to accommodate a future pedestrian bridge structure crossing over Saddle Creek Road, linking the Saddle Creek Campus to the main academic health science campus. The City of Omaha will pay for, own and operate an adjacent parking structure that will serve the building.
Construction on the CORE Building will begin this fall, with completion expected in February 2026. Direct state support will not fund the project, rather UNMC will use the University’s Internal Lending Program, with bond payments made using research facility and administrative income over time.
In other UNMC-related business the regents:
- Approved the acquisition of two Omaha properties for possible future campus development. The properties are located at 414 S. 40th St. and 3910 Dewey Ave.