Small Town, Big Vision: The Story Behind Seward’s New Wellness Center

In Midwestern towns, the town square is the social heart—where history, hustle, and quirkiness collide. Seward, Nebraska, a town with a proud tradition of hosting 4th of July celebrations since 1868, is ready to take this sense of community to the next level with their new Seward Wellness Center.

But creating this new town hub wasn’t without its challenges. In the wake of Covid, climbing costs due to rising material prices and inflation caused the city and design team to regroup. The design evolved from two levels to a one-level building and implemented a ‘Construction Manager at Risk’ approach, value engineering, and cost-conscious material choices. Sometimes, a bit of creative thinking leads to even better outcomes. The result? A 50,000 sf facility that checks all the boxes: serving current needs and leaving room for future expansion.

Changing the Game

This Wellness Center is about a healthier, more vibrant Seward community. The facility caters to everyone—from kiddos to grandparents—tackling current health challenges to ensure a healthy community for years to come. 

The project became a community rallying point, with residents raising funds in a matter of months under the leadership of Shane Baack at Seward Changing the Game. “This project is literally a game changer for this community. That is why we named it that way,” said Shane. Seward is building a lasting legacy, one that will bring everyone together to vibe and thrive—connect, exercise, learn, and grow. Plus, it’s already creating new jobs.

Great Design, Tight Budget

Seward Wellness Center Executive Director, Joel Brase, acknowledged the budget hurdles. “This is Seward’s largest-ever public-private partnership.” The team rose to the occasion. Tapping into determined design and community minds, they partnered with Sampson Construction to create schedule efficiencies, account for labor deficits, and leverage cost-effective, sustainable, and practical materials.

Our Goldilocks Moment

We lovingly call it our “Goldilocks Effect”—design challenges aren’t too big, too small, or too tough to tackle. We love how everyone came together so we could fit so much design into the building—and we’re incredibly proud of the final result.

This is what happens when you think outside the box, stretch a dollar, and put community first. We’ll answer that call every time.