Western Specialty Contractors Repairs Parking Garage at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Western Specialty Contractors’ Omaha, NE Branch recently restored the 14th and Avery parking garage on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) campus.
Located at 1111 N 14th St. in Lincoln, NE, the precast concrete and brick-veneered parking structure was built in 2004 and has five levels and 1,500 parking stalls. A focal point of
the structure is its glass-enclosed elevator and staircase.
The university hired Western’s experts to restore the structure’s concrete, masonry, caulk and top-deck sealant, which were weathered and worn due to daily use. The project also included
miscellaneous repairs such as barrier cable removal and re-tensioning.
Vehicles regularly entering parking garages leave water, oil, and muck behind, which can corrode the structure’s concrete and steel support system. An ineffective maintenance routine for a parking structure can quickly lead to costly repairs and restorations that are disruptive to drivers and create unexpected costs and safety concerns. Keeping up with concrete repairs and maintaining a garage’s waterproofing will help to extend the life of any busy parking structure.
The UNL project started in mid-July 2025 and was completed within four months. With the repairs underway during the school year, Western’s crews were challenged to work around ongoing traffic. Western completed the repairs in multiple phases to keep the majority of the garage open, utilizing barricades and directional signage.
“We had to resolve several challenges on the project, including students who ignored our signage and parked in work areas and walked through our new sealer applied to the top deck,” said Western Omaha Branch Manager Jack Schneider. “We also had to completely open all of our work areas during the UNL Huskers football home games.”
Western worked with the structural engineer on the project, Structural Design Group, which completed inspections of Western’s reinforcement and concrete mix for the topping slab repairs. The engineer also tested the garage’s shear connectors, which were found to be structurally sound and didn’t require re-welding.
Western completed the project within budget despite several change orders, which required reallocating funds between repairs based on their actual size and scope.
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About Western Specialty Contractors
Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://westernspecialtycontractors.com.