The University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Architecture, in partnership with DLR Group and the Nebraska Foundation, will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 11 at 3:45 p.m. to celebrate the dedication of the newly remodeled Griff and Nancy Davenport Auditorium. The event will take place in the north lobby of Architecture Hall.
DLR Group, a locally based global design firm, made the generous donation in honor of its former CEO and College of Architecture alumnus William “Griff” Davenport, FAIA. A 1980 graduate of the College of Architecture, Davenport has had a profound impact on the design profession and education over his 45-year career at DLR Group. As CEO, he led the firm through a period of transformative global growth while championing the firm’s foundational values.
“Griff has been a steadfast advocate for our students, our college and the profession,” said Dean Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg. “This gift from DLR Group not only honors a visionary leader but also shares a space where students will continue to be inspired and challenged. Griff’s legacy is not only etched in this auditorium, but in the lives of every student and professional he’s uplifted.”
Davenport’s contributions to the college span decades, from serving on the Professional Advisory Council to establishing the Griff and Nancy Davenport Leadership by Design Scholarship, which supports exceptional architecture students. The naming of this auditorium is a gift from the employee-owners of DLR Group and stands as a testament to his exemplary leadership and enduring commitment to design education.
“In every employee-owner, he instilled that DLR Group has never been about a moment in time or any one person,” said DLR Group CEO Steven McKay, AIA, RIBA.“ It is about the firm's core values of Commitment, Creativity, Environmental Stewardship, Integrity, Ownership, Sharing, Teamwork, and, as he always emphasized, Fun. May the curious individuals who walk through these doors be inspired to elevate the human experience through design.”
The auditorium, located in Architecture Hall West, reopened for instruction in fall 2024 after an extensive renovation. The remodel increased the lecture space capacity from 90 to 140, enhancing the college’s ability to host events like the long-running Hyde Lecture Series. Architecture Hall West, originally constructed in 1912 as the College of Law, is the fifth-oldest building on UNL’s city campus.
For those interested in other gift opportunities in support of the College of Architecture, contact Cameron Andreesen, Director of Development with the University of Nebraska Foundation, at 402-458-1190 or cameron.andreesen@nufoundation.org.
