For our January Member Spotlight, we talked to Holland Basham Architects, an Omaha-based architecture firm that includes bioscience industry companies among its many clients.
Tell us about Holland Basham Architects.
Established in Omaha in 1989, Holland Basham Architects (HBA) has been planning and designing dynamic environments that support the community, enhance culture, and maximize real estate value ever since. The company has grown to over 75 employees in three office locations and celebrated 35 years in 2024.
HBA’s client portfolio includes Streck, Merck, Novonesis, American Laboratories, Collins Aerospace, UPRR, Cargill, ConAgra, Meta, John Deere, Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo, UNMC, CHI Health, Methodist Health Systems, Creighton University, and the University of Nebraska.
Our Leading Industries team excels in adapting to our clients’ evolving needs, delivering superior design solutions tailored to each client’s unique vision. At HBA, we blend talent, expertise, and industry experience to create designs that are not only functional but also thoughtfully planned for the future. We believe that even the most technically demanding spaces can be aesthetically pleasing. Our goal is to craft environments that companies and their employees take pride in.
Why is Nebraska an important location for HBA?
Our firm is rooted in Omaha. The relationships we have built within the community and industry give us the unique position to support the growth of bioindustries while working with trusted, experienced experts.
What products/services do you offer?
- Master Planning
- Site Level
- Facility Level
- Visualization Technology
- Aerial Photography
- Virtual and Augmented Reality
- Renderings
- Workplace Strategy
- Environmental Graphics
- Architecture
- Interior Design
- Sustainable Design
- Visioning
- Programming
- Conceptual Design
- Facility Assessments
- Code Reviews
- FF&E Coordination
Beyond Nebraska, how large is HBA’s footprint?
We also have an office in Denver, Colorado but do work all around the country. We are licensed in 30 states currently and have large projects currently underway in Atlanta, Fort Worth, Austin, Chicago, Quad Cities, in addition to Omaha and Denver.
How many employees in Nebraska? Company-wide?
We have about 65 employees in our Omaha office and 75 total including Denver, Lincoln, and remote employees.
How does HBA support the bioscience industry?
A recent example: HBA is currently working with a bio-science entity regarding a comprehensive master plan and overall redesign of their entire bio-science research and manufacturing campus. This process includes the engagement of a developer providing alternative financing models along with building construction opportunities for future buildings.
We recognize science, manufacturing, and tech as industries which are growing rapidly in response to technological advances and the evolving needs of our society. We have created a specialized team to execute architectural design within these leading industries. By providing focus to these specialized clients, our team offers:
- Strategic master planning
- Balancing of capital expenditures with needs analysis
- Fostering innovation
- Expertise that spans functions of your businesses
- Ability to secure best possible time to market while also ensuring regulatory compliance
What are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry today and how does HBA play a role in helping overcome those challenges?
Approaching challenges with innovative solutions, we help bio-science companies, such as Streck, address the country’s labor shortage by enhancing their employee benefits and offerings. HBA collaborated with Streck leadership teams to develop workforce housing for employees, making it easier for them to commute, reducing travel time, and fostering a sense of community. This initiative not only boosts employee satisfaction and retention but also contributes to local economic growth by offering stable, accessible living options near workplaces. By addressing housing challenges, we empower companies to attract and retain top talent while elevating the overall quality of life for their workforce.
Speeding up the time to market for new products or research is a key priority for our clients. Our efficient master planning and design processes, demonstrated through our work with Bio Sciences entities, ensure quicker delivery without compromising on quality or innovation.
We actively explore and integrate the evolving capabilities of artificial intelligence to enhance and innovate our design processes. In the bio sciences sector, AI has been instrumental in optimizing facility layouts, simulating workflows for efficiency, and predicting future needs based on data trends. These capabilities allow us to design spaces that not only meet current operational demands but also adapt to future advancements, ensuring long-term functionality and value.
What’s on the horizon for HBA in 2025?
For the past year, we have been formulating short- and long-term strategic plans for our firm. In 2025, we will start to implement these initiatives which support HBA’s stated Vision, Mission and Values. We will continue to innovate, nurture our growing team, and deliver exceptional value to our clients and stakeholders.