Covered with hundreds of signatures, final beam placed on Rural Health Education Building

KEARNEY, Neb. — As a crane lifted the final piece of steel into place, University of Nebraska leaders celebrated a milestone moment in a monumental project.

“It’s not a project on paper, it’s not a project that’s in a legislative bill, it’s in steel,” UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen said.

The Doug Kristensen Rural Health Education building is becoming reality, and it’s namesake, retiring UNK chancellor Doug Kristensen, couldn’t be happier.

“When that building gets done and we get into there, it’s going to be the largest rural healthcare facility in the country, and it’s happening in Kearney, Nebraska," Kristensen said. "I think that’s a big deal.”

The 100,00 square-foot building is on UNK’s campus, but will contain a branch of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. UNMC Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold says the partnership, along with the project’s unique fundraising model, should be a lesson to the rest of the country.

“When the public and the private sectors come together with a great university, you can make magic happen,” Gold said.

UNMC staff made sure the final beam reflected the importance of building. They brought pieces of it across the state to gather signatures from state legislators, Nebraska’s entire federal delegation, faculty members, and event students ranging from middle schoolers to community college students. Then the pieces were welded together to form the one-of-a-kind beam. 

“I think it’s a great way to have people share in the vision, be part of the building — physically part of it,” Kristensen said.

“The physical act of signing your name on the top of that beam is a direct way of saying I care," Gold said. "And believe me, they care.”

Construction is on schedule and the complex is expected to open in early 2026. Until then, university officials are focused on developing what will happen inside the facility.

“(It’s our responsibility) to be absolutely sure that not only do we build a beautiful building, but most importantly, we build phenomenal programs that will for decades and decades and decades serve the healthcare of rural Nebraska,” Gold said.