After two years of moving from concept to completion, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Architecture, in partnership with Partners for Livable Omaha will celebrate the completion of the first homes in the OurStory Small Houses initiative with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, at 5802 Corby St. in Omaha's historic Benson neighborhood. The event marks the completion of the Benson House and Corby House, the inaugural demonstration homes in the OurStory initiative.
The Benson House and Corby House serve as the first demonstration of the OurStory housing model, a collaboration between the College of Architecture's FACT (Fabrication and Construction Team) designbuild studio and Partners for Livable Omaha. Designed to address housing affordability, the initiative combines innovative design, construction research and community partnerships to create a repeatable model for small, sustainable homes that can be replicated in communities across Nebraska and beyond.
More than 30 College of Architecture students participated in every phase of the project—from community engagement and research to design, prototyping and construction planning—gaining hands-on experience while helping bring the homes to life. The ribbon cutting celebrates not only the completion of two homes but also a new approach to delivering affordable, age-friendly housing through scalable infill development.
Across the United States, communities are facing a growing need for housing options that are affordable, adaptable and designed to support people throughout all stages of life. According to AARP, one in five Americans will be age 65 or older by 2030, while 94% of Nebraskans age 45 and older say remaining in their homes as they age is important. Yet many existing homes lack the accessibility features needed to allow people to safely and comfortably age in place.
By validating designs through real construction, documenting costs and refining construction methods, OurStory is helping make small, accessible housing easier and more predictable to deliver at scale. The initiative seeks to reduce barriers for builders, developers and communities looking to expand housing options while improving cost predictability and long-term affordability.
"What began as a shared vision has become a tangible example of what's possible when higher education, nonprofit organizations, government lenders and community partners work together," said Jessica Scheuerman, executive director of Partners for Livable Omaha. "These first homes demonstrate a model that can be refined and replicated throughout Omaha and in other communities looking for practical solutions to today's housing challenges."
"Seeing these homes completed is incredibly rewarding because they represent years of collaboration, research, design and hands-on learning," said Jeffrey L. Day, FAIA, professor and director of the FACT designbuild studio. "Our students didn't simply design houses—they developed, tested and refined a new approach to housing alongside community partners. That kind of real-world experience transforms how students learn and prepares them to tackle the housing challenges communities face today."
The Corby House features a two-bedroom, 802-square-foot layout, while the Benson House offers a one-bedroom, 618-square-foot design. Both homes were constructed by Holy Name Housing Corp. and FACT, with support from the City of Omaha, which facilitated approval of housing on small lots as part of the city's Housing Affordability Action Plan.
OurStory builds on more than two decades of community-engaged designbuild education at the College of Architecture. Since 2001, the FACT studio has partnered with approximately 26 nonprofits, on over 30 projects that have benefited communities across Nebraska and beyond. Previous collaborations with Partners for Livable Omaha include the award-winning Omaha Mobile Stage.
The first OurStory build was made possible through a construction loan from Spark, with additional support from Lozier Foundation, Pella Windows and Doors of Omaha and Lincoln, Sherwin Williams, Buildertrend, TD2 and Morrissey Engineering. The general contractor is Holy Name Housing Corporation. The architect of record is Actual Architecture Co. The designer and fabricator of many interior components is FACT. The developer is Partners for Livable Omaha.
Organizers hope the completion of the Benson and Corby Houses will serve as a catalyst for future OurStory developments, expanding access to affordable, thoughtfully designed housing throughout the region. Building on lessons learned from these initial homes, the next phase of the initiative will focus on creating a collection of adaptable housing designs that communities can use for a variety of applications, including single-lot infill housing, accessory dwelling units and cottage-court communities. This growing resource will help builders, developers and communities explore new ways to deliver age-friendly, sustainable homes that meet the needs of residents at every stage of life.
