Designing Omaha’s First Entertainment District – The Capitol District

Anchored by the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District, the Capitol District to bring apartments, retail, office and outdoor space to downtown Omaha

Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District to Open in August (Photo: Business Wire)

OMAHA, Neb.--()--A new district is emerging in downtown Omaha. The Capitol District, a mixed-use development combining hotel, apartments, retail, office, and outdoor entertainment, will open in phases starting in August with the opening of the new premier full-service Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District.

An Iconic Hotel

The iconic new 333-room Omaha Marriott Downtown, managed by Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, was designed by the internationally renowned architecture firm LEO A DALY and is being built by JE Dunn. The 12-story glass building is a significant addition to the downtown skyline, complementing the distinctive roofline of the Omaha Convention Center. The transparent building envelope creates a sophisticated presence along 10th street. “At night, the building takes on an elegant glow,” said David Hawes, architect with LEO A DALY.

The building’s “wow” feature, winged corners on its south side, enable breathtaking 270-degree views of downtown Omaha’s skyline that are unique in the city. The full-service hotel features over 17,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, hospitality suites, a roof top swimming pool with bar/entertainment area, full-service restaurant and bar and extra-large fitness center.

A Social Hotspot

On the pedestrian level, the Omaha Marriott Downtown is welcoming and transparent. “We were careful to create as much visual frontage as possible on the street level to allow people to see and be seen,” added Hawes. “The high ceilings make the lobby a ‘celebratory space’ with views to the convention center to the east, and the city skyline to the west.”

“Hotels are becoming social hubs, places to hang out before and after events, and just popular cultural hotspots in general. We wanted the design to encourage locals and visitors to mingle in a casual but sophisticated environment,” said Michelle Holmes, interior designer with LEO A DALY.

Marriott was recruited for the hotel expressly because of the full-service chain’s social, inviting vibe. “The Marriott brand is based around a ‘great room,’ and that’s exactly what we wanted the lobby to be – a social space for the city,” Holmes said.

Comprising three main uses – lounge, dining room, and bar – the different portions of the grand lobby spill over into each other to create a cohesive but intimate gathering space.

Local materials such as brick and iron bring the warehouse style of the Old Market into a sophisticated space, according to Holmes. Wood paneling hints at Omaha’s roots, but is tailored with modern sophistication in keeping with Marriott’s midcentury-modern-inspired aesthetic.

“It’s all about layering textures – marrying old and new,” added Holmes.

A Dynamic Urban hub

The Capitol District forms a critical link between the events district, Riverfront, Old Market, and downtown core, adding much-needed density to the two blocks between 10th and 12th Street, south of Davenport.

“We wanted to create a vibrant, walkable enclave that is unlike anything else in downtown,” said Hawes. “The design invites visitors who may feel isolated in the events district to experience the real Omaha, while also creating a comfortable, active place for residents to live, work, and play.”

Capitol District will be the first entertainment district in Omaha, taking advantage of a new city ordinance that allows alcoholic beverages outdoors. To complement the wide-open concept, the mixed-use design provides portals to entertainment that celebrates community use.

The hotel and 218-unit Capitol District Apartments bookend the District on the east and west, each offering public-facing retail and bar spaces that spill out onto a central plaza, which is designed to serve as a modern town square. The hardscaped plaza, inspired by other great outdoor venues across the country, will have programming year-round, such as ice-skating and outdoor concerts.

The buildings embrace the street at their base with strong, linear forms of masonry, glass and steel, “modern in form, but embracing the industrial heritage of the surrounding areas,” Hawes added.

Development Progress

A third, retail-focused building along the site’s north side is under construction and will come online in Spring 2018. The eight-level parking garage has been completed and will connect, via skywalks, to the apartments, retail building and the Omaha Marriott Downtown. The final component, an office and retail building on the south side, is in the works.

Progress has been rapid on the Capitol District Apartments, set to open in July. Using a proprietary modular construction system designed and engineered by Prescient, general contractor MCL Construction was able to complete structural work on a floor per week basis to complete the building in record time.

More information on the Capitol District Development is available at: http://www.capitoldistrictomaha.com.

Views of the project site can also be seen live at: http://www.workzonecam.com/projects/shamrock/capitaldistrict/workzonecam.

For more information about the Omaha Marriott Downtown, visit http://www.downtownomahamarriott.com/.

For more information about The Capitol District Apartments, visit http://livecapitoldistrict.com.

About the Capitol District

The Capitol District is Omaha’s newest downtown entertainment district. The District surrounds a technology-smart, modern town square and will feature a 218-unit high rise apartment tower, a full-service Marriott hotel, Class A office space, plenty of adjacent parking and over 20 diverse restaurants and bars – all within walking distance of Omaha’s best civic, cultural and entertainment venues and the Riverfront. The Capitol District will connect, invigorate and entertain Omaha. The District will welcome people year-round at all times of day by hosting collaborative events, live music and everyday fun. The Capitol District is being developed by Shamrock Development, an Omaha company that specializes in creating urban mixed-use developments. For more information, visit www.capitoldistrictomaha.com and follow the development on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District

Located in the heart of Omaha’s vibrant Capitol District, The Omaha Marriott Downtown is Omaha’s newest full-service premier hotel. Within easy walking distance from the CenturyLink Arena & Convention Center and TD Ameritrade Park, the Omaha Marriott Downtown is the ideal venue for business meetings, weddings and weekend getaways. The 333-room hotel offers stunning features and amenities including over 17,500 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, hospitality suites, outdoor roof top swimming pool with bar/entertainment area, Starbucks® café, extra-large fitness center, parking garage and personalized concierge services. As one of only 55 “Redesigned Marriott” hotels in the world, the Omaha Marriott Downtown features floor to ceiling windows in all its guest rooms and 13 suites with custom furnishings and dynamic cityscape views. In addition to its fine amenities, the hotel offers guests creative culinary dining options at Society 1854 and Burdock + Bitters, sure to take guests on a sensory food and beverage journey. For more information, please visit: http://www.downtownomahamarriott.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

The hotel is managed by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a leader in the hospitality industry since 1962. Marcus Hotels & Resorts creates asset value for hotel owners through its expertise in management, development and product repositioning, including hotel food and beverage concepts developed by its Marcus Restaurant Group. For more information, please visit: http://media.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@MarcusHotels).

About Leo A Daly

Established in 1915, LEO A DALY is an international planning, architecture, engineering, and interior design firm. The firm's award-winning portfolio includes projects in 91 countries and all 50 states. With 800 employees in 30 offices worldwide, the firm consistently ranks as a top international design firm. For more information, visit www.leoadaly.com.

Contacts

Shamrock Development, Inc. Media Contact:
Sharon Dutcher
sdutcher@shamrockdevelopment.com
(402) 415-2420 (office); (402) 216-7742 (cell)
or
Leo A Daly Media Contact:
Dan Scheuerman
dpscheuerman@leoadaly.com
(402) 390-4342 (office); (240) 426-8533 (cell)
or
Omaha Marriott Downtown Media Contact:
jessica@reputationpartners.com
(414) 376-2348 (office); (414) 803-0409 (cell)

Release Summary

Designing Omaha's First Entertainment District - The Capitol District to Bring Full-Service Hotel, Apartments, Retail, Office and Outdoor Plaza

Contacts

Shamrock Development, Inc. Media Contact:
Sharon Dutcher
sdutcher@shamrockdevelopment.com
(402) 415-2420 (office); (402) 216-7742 (cell)
or
Leo A Daly Media Contact:
Dan Scheuerman
dpscheuerman@leoadaly.com
(402) 390-4342 (office); (240) 426-8533 (cell)
or
Omaha Marriott Downtown Media Contact:
jessica@reputationpartners.com
(414) 376-2348 (office); (414) 803-0409 (cell)