OPS Westview High School

Omaha Public Schools’ Westview High School began as a new high school project located on vacant ground compiled from multiple residential lots.

With severe grade changes across multiple lots, our team completed lot purchase evaluations to determine which lots were feasible and available for the school’s location. Eventually, 70 acres were acquired. The plans, which housed a YMCA and the high school within the same building, challenged Lamp Rynearson’s design team to design a site plan and alignment that promoted visibility and safety at entrances and across the campus. The site design helped OPS maximize both the site’s size and location to be accessible and safe for users while compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.

The Lamp Rynearson team acted as an equity advocate, completing equity comparisons for both Westview and Buena Vista high schools. Lamp Rynearson dedicated 7% of the design fee to small and minority-owned business contributors to meet bond economic inclusion requirements.

Coordinating with Omaha Public Schools, the City of Omaha, Douglas County, adjacent SIDs, utility companies, construction managers, bond managers, and others, Lamp Rynearson provided a full suite of direct-to-owner services, as well as working jointly with the architect, BCDM.