Facilities

There are 49 buildings on the 514-acre campus of UNK. In addition, UNK offers courses at College Park in Grand Island, NE. The major buildings are:

William E. Bruner Hall of Science

Built in 1966, the original Bruner Hall of Science footprint was 84,900 gross square feet, but in 1987 a 15,320 GSF Lecture Hall added three additional levels. In 2004 deferred maintenance renovations upgraded building systems at a cost of $6.4 million. In 2009 a $14 million renovation addressed the upgrade of 47,000 GSF, the razing of Mary Morse Lecture Hall and the construction of a 17,800 GSF new addition. The renovation upgraded and enhanced teaching and research labs and support spaces within the existing building. The addition features a planetarium and offices for the Health Science Programs, classrooms and student lounge space. Other departments occupying the building are Biology and Chemistry.

Calvin T. Ryan Library

This building was erected in 1963. An addition in 1983 doubled the size of the facility. The Loper Success Hub is housed in the Library. The attached Mitchell Center includes radio and television broadcasting facilities and houses the Communication Department and Antelope Newspaper offices.

College of Education Building

Completed in 2002, the College of Education Building is a 50,000 square foot building with state-of-the-art technology. The building has been designed with the needs of teaching and clinical education as its focus. Six large classrooms are equipped with electronic teaching stations, wireless computer capabilities and the potential for computer-assisted teaching in a variety of teaching configurations. Fifty faculty offices are provided for the departments of Counseling, School Psychology and Family Science, Communication Disorders, Educational Administration and Teacher Education, along with other spaces for the Dean of Education, advising, teacher certification activities, and administrative support.

Communications Center Building

Part of the former State Hospital complex acquired in 1972, this renovated building is used by University Communications & Marketing on the first level, Video Services on the second level and Graduate Studies & Academic Innovation on the third level.

Copeland Hall

Built and used as the campus gymnasium from 1918 to 1961, this building was used for offices and classes until 1995 when a classroom addition was built. The original building was renovated in 1996 and now houses the Departments of Sociology, Geography and Earth Science, History, Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Psychology.

Cushing Health, Physical Education and Recreation Facility

Originally constructed in 1961, this facility has undergone extensive renovation. The renovated building houses classrooms, offices, laboratories, locker facilities, an indoor running track, racquetball, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. These facilities service recreation and intramural programs in addition to space for intercollegiate athletic teams and the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences.

In August 2014, the $6.5 million Wellness Center opened in the northeast corner of Cushing Coliseum.  It is a modern 19,000-square-foot facility that features a Physical Activity and Wellness Lab, a large fitness center and rock-climbing wall.

Discovery Hall

Discovery Hall is a 90,000-square-foot academic building that houses the Construction Management, Industrial Distribution, Interior and Product Design, Aviation, Cyber Systems, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, Astronomy, and Engineering programs.  The state-of-the-art STEM facility features cutting-edge technology, modern classrooms and interactive lab spaces that provide hands-on learning opportunities in real-world, on-the-job settings.  Discovery Hall opened in August 2020.

Facilities Building

This brick structure houses offices and work areas for Facilities Management and Planning and UNK Police.

Fine Arts Building

This building houses the department of Music, Theatre and Dance. It opened in January, 1970, and in 1979 a wing was added to house the Department of Art and Design and the Walker Art Gallery. The Fine Arts Recital Hall and Miriam Drake Theatre on the first level and the Studio Theatre on the lower level provide space for student and faculty performances.

G. W. Frank Museum of History & Culture

The Frank Museum is located in one of the largest mansions built during Kearney's 19th century industrial boom. Completed in 1890, the home of George and Phoebe Frank was notable for its opulence and modernity, featuring hand-carved oak woodwork, electric lighting, indoor plumbing, steam heating, large fireplaces, and other modern amenities. Following Kearney's collapse in the mid-1890s, the building served as both a private sanitarium and the residency for the Nebraska State Hospital for the Tubercular (now the West Campus of UNK). Today, the museum's mission is to engage diverse audiences with the history and culture of Kearney, Nebraska, and the larger Great Plains region through collecting, preserving, and sharing the stories of the many individuals associated with this historic site. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Frank Museum serves as a living institution, interpreting the home and its cultural resources, and is dedicated to exploring our past as a way of better understanding our present and future. Throughout the year, the museum is available for public and private tours, school trips, university functions, and as a resource for class projects.

General Services Building

Originally built as the Military Science building in 1969, this building now houses the public offices of Facilities Management and Planning.

Health and Sports Center

Dedicated during the fall of 1990, this facility houses UNK's indoor spectator sports. In addition, offices for the UNK intercollegiate athletics sports teams and the Athletic Director staff, locker facilities, equipment rooms, athletic weight area, athletic training facilities, wrestling and martial arts rooms are located in the building. Concession and restroom facilities serve spectators utilizing the 5,100-seat arena.

Health Science Education Complex

Dedicated in August 2015, the Health Science Education Complex is a $19 million, 46,000 square feet state-of-the art facility. This complex represents an inter-campus partnership between the University of Nebraska Medical Center and University of Nebraska at Kearney to help address current and projected nursing and allied health workforce shortages in rural Nebraska. The Health Science Education Complex houses seven programs: nursing and graduate nursing, physician assistants, physical therapy, clinical laboratory science, radiography, and diagnostic medical sonography (allied health professions). In addition, the complex building includes seven classrooms, fourteen extensive simulation, and five clinical skills laboratories for pre-clinical education and complex clinical scenarios, learning studio and seminar rooms, health assessment laboratories and simulated primary care spaces, a gross anatomy lab, administrative, faculty and staff office spaces to accommodate current and expanded numbers of faculty and staff members, and secure storage spaces for research and academic records.

Memorial Student Affairs Building

Constructed in 1956 and remodeled in 1964 and 1984, this building houses the Dean for Student Affairs, Admissions, Campus Post Office, Student and Family Transitions, Financial Aid, Women's Center, Dean's Office of Student Affairs, and Student Health & Counseling (SHC).

The Museum of Nebraska Art

Located on the Bricks in downtown Kearney, the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) is housed in a beautifully renovated 1911 Renaissance revival building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, providing an ideal setting for its collection of over 6,000 works. Dedicated to telling the story of Nebraska through the art of Nebraska, MONA exhibits the work of a distinguished and diverse group of artists with a tie to Nebraska or by artists from around the world who have depicted Nebraska subjects. Originally a Post Office, the building was remodeled and expanded in 1993 and includes an outdoor sculpture garden. The UNK community of students, faculty, and staff visit and are welcomed to MONA for a variety of classes, programs, and activities.

The Nebraskan Student Union

This building was opened in 1964. A major renovation and addition was completed in 2002 adding 25,000 square feet. In 2018, a $6 million renovation was completed to the space creating improved dining and meeting spaces.  The Nebraskan houses union administrative offices, the Office of Student Inclusion & Diversity as well as student activity offices, UNK food service operations, the Loper Store and conference space.

Ockinga Seminar Center

This building was built as a gift from the Clara Ockinga estate and provides two seminar rooms used by the University and the public.

Plambeck Education Center

The LaVonne Kopecky Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center was completed in the fall of 2019.  The 19,900-square-foot facility is located in University Village and features 11 classrooms that serve in the care and educational development of up to 180 children from infant to age 6.

Residence Halls

UNK has 10 traditional residence halls and Village Flats apartments to accommodate students residing on campus. Mantor, Randall, URN, URS & Men's hall have traditional double rooms with shared bathrooms on each floor. CTE & CTW is a semi-suite residence hall with a private bathroom shared between two rooms. Antelope & Nester Hall has 2 & 4 person suites with kitchenette, living area and bathrooms shared in a suite environment while allowing students to have individual bedrooms. Village Flats apartments serve as a housing option for married students, students with families or non-traditional age students.  Each apartment has a kitchen, living area and bathroom.  Students are able to choose from a one- or two-bedroom apartment.

Ron & Carol Cope Center for Safety Education and Research

Constructed in 1981, the area includes a driving range and provides space for services offered by the Nebraska Safety Center.

A. O. Thomas Hall

A campus school from 1926-1963, it now houses the Dean's Office for Arts & Sciences and the Departments of English, Modern Languages and Philosophy.

Warner Hall

This building was opened in 1977 and named Founders Hall in honor of the original faculty of UNK.  It was renamed in March 2016 to the Jerome and Charles Warner Hall in honor of the father and son who were instrumental in the university's history.   Warner Hall now serves as the administrative hub of the University. Offices include the Chancellor and Vice Chancellors, Finance, Student Records and Registration, AA/EEO, and Human Resources on the first level. Second level includes offices of Academic Resources, Budget Office, Institutional Research, Office of Equity and Compliance, Payment and Procurement Services, Sponsored Programs and Research Development, Information Technology Services, Residence Life & Housing, and the Department of Social Work in the College of Arts and Sciences.

West Center

In 1972 UNK acquired the former State Hospital complex. A major renovation was completed in 2001 and now provides facilities for the College of Business and Technology Dean, Departments of Accounting, Finance, and Economics, Management, Marketing, Agribusiness, and Supply Chain Management, and the College of Business and Technology Centers for Economics Education, Rural Research & Development, Nebraska Safety Center and Nebraska Business Development.