Mayor Chris Beutler on Friday encouraged Lincolnites to attend a Wednesday meeting on the future of Pershing Center.  The open house is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Pershing Center and includes presentations on the history of event facilities in Lincoln at 5:15, 5:45, 6:15 and 6:45 p.m.

“As the community looks into building a new arena in the West Haymarket, we also need to address the future of this historic building which has been successfully holding events for more than 50 years,” Beutler said in a prepared statement.  “The meeting is a great opportunity to tour Pershing, to have your questions answered and to offer your own ideas.”

Beutler and NU Athletic Director Tom Osborne will attend the event to hear from residents. Members of the Pershing Advisory Board also will be available to meet with those attending.

The meeting is part of the Pershing Adaptive Reuse and Site Study, which began earlier this year. The study is being managed through the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Department in cooperation with the Pershing Advisory Board and Pershing Center staff.  Helping with the study is a design team of local architects and facility experts lead by the firm of Bahr Vermeer Haecker Architects.

The study includes a design contest among UNL architecture students. The student entries will be on display at the meeting.  Other displays will include information on Pershing’s current condition and the redevelopment concepts for the West Haymarket.

More information on the study is available on the city Web site at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: pars).