Houzz - Announces the "Best of Houzz 2017" Winners

January 17, 2017

Authenticity, LLC was honored by Houzz and given a highy sought after award: The Design Award.  I am delighted to have been recognized for design for three years in a row! My portifolio of work continues to be one of the most popular!

10K Houzz Saves Badge

July 29, 2016

Authenticity, LLC was awarded the 10K Houzz Saves. I have had my pictures added to more than 10,000 times to ideabooks on Houzz. Showing the strength of my portifolio!

Houzz Featured Project, McClellan Residence

February 7, 2016

One of the pictures from the McClellan Residence was featured on Houzz by a French writer. While I can't read French, the article is about: Tip Maintenance: How to choose and maintain your vacuum cleaner? To read the article (if you can read French), click here or click below.

Houzz - Announces the "Best of Houzz 2017" Winners

January 12, 2016

Authenticity, LLC was honored by Houzz and given a highy sought after award: The Design Award.  I am delighted to have been recognized for design for the past two years! Only 3% of Pros win this award, so I am quite proud of it!

Committees approve Telegraph District by Kevin Abourezk, Lincoln Journal Star

January 6, 2016

Serving the city of Lincoln on the Urban Design Committee. This is our second meeting on the new Telegraph District. I continue to be amazed by the leadership in our city and how these major projects happen! The first meeting, I was just stunned by the magnitude of the district. I am quoted in this article about the architecture of the windowless 401 building. Yes, it is true. I always thought this building is a strong piece of architecture that proved you could do a windowless building. However, I doubt we will see another windowless building approved in the downtown ever again. To read the newspaper clipping, click here.

Markvicka's Open House

December 13, 2015

I was invited to the Markvicka's first open house party. It was so much fun to see the home we had designed come alive with people. What a fun time and great clients!

Coming to a neighborhood near you by Kevin Abourezk, Lincoln Journal Star

December 4, 2015

Serving the city of Lincoln on the Urban Design Committee. UNL architecture class & NeighborWorks Lincoln presented a house built from cargo shipping containers. It is definately a novel idea and one that we will follow to see how it turns out. It will have to be the right home for the right person as the bedrooms are quite small. I am quoted as being concerned about financing as they may be consider it a modular home, but as I was reminded by one of our board members..that is not our responsibilty! To read the newspaper clipping, click here.

Recommended on Houzz Badge

August 21, 2015

Authenticity LLC was honored to receive the Recommended on Houzz Badge which means that I am recommended on Houzz by the Houzz community. Another nice honor!

Houzz Influencer Badge

August 21, 2015

Authenticity LLC was honored to receive the Houzz Influencer Badge meaning that my knowledge & advice are highly valued by the Houzz community.

AIA Nebraska Awards - 2015, Omaha

Very proud to have been selected for the 2015 AIA Nebraska People's Choice Award - Architecture Interiors. Project: The Barn

This was the first time Authenticity had submitted a project!

Bus stop plan could be 'better' by Kevin Abourezk, Lincoln Journal Star
​April 8, 2015

Serving the city of Lincoln on the Urban Design Committee. Star Tran proposed making several changes to the 11th & N bus stop. This bus stop is a major transition point for our city bus passengers. We took a rare stand and voted against the improvements. Why? I am quoted 'I just want to push you into doing something better.' This is so very true. Adding boring music, police and removing chain link fence isn't enough. I had even given Star Tran an example of a nice bus stop close to the Mayo Clinic earlier in the year as an idea of how I could see it so much better. To me, their solution is just putting a bandaid on the problem. However, this meeting did start a push for the city to work on the new transit center ideas! To read the newspaper clipping, click here.

Barn Home Uses Rain For Water, Heat, by Algis Laukaitis Photos by Gwyneth Roberts, Lincoln Journal Star, Front Page!

February 19, 2015

Al did an excellent job featuring the Barn project and it even made the front page of the Lincoln Journal Star! Al & Gwyneth came and toured the Barn project before he wrote the article. They were definitely fascinated with the rainwater & greywater systems and passive airflow system. He did a great job explaining how the different systems work together. It just reminded me how much thought and design went into this amazing project! It was really such fun for me because this was really one of the first official tours I had done of the Barn!  To read the article, click here or follow the link to Lincoln Journal Star here.

Authenticity, LLC, 10 years, Lincoln Journal Star, Directions 2015

February 15, 2015

Authenticity announced several business milestones. The first was my 10 year company anniversary! Really unbelievable as the years have just flown by! I also announced the two Houzz awards: "Best of Houzz" for design and "Best of Houzz" for client satisfaction! To read the clipping, click here.

Houzz - Houzz Tour House - The Barn Project - Houzz Tour: An Energy-Efficient Barn Graces the Nebraska Landscape

February 8, 2015

It was a very exciting day as the Barn Project was featured by Becky Harris, Houzz writer. She did a great job capturing the Barn's great aesthetic features! 

Design panel OKs Tower Square outdoor cafe, by Kevin Abourezk, Lincoln Journal Star

February 5, 2015

Serving the city of Lincoln on the Urban Design Committee. LES has signed a 20 year contract with HelioSage Energy for a solar farm. They are looking to put the solar farm on interstate 80 on the west edge of town by the airport. It would be visible from the interstate. I am quoted as saying they should be visible and 'think it's very cool.' I am sure I said it this way and love the idea! Just wish my quote more expressed how I would hope that the solar farm would inspire more people to either join the solar farm project or consider doing their own! To read the newspaper clipping, click here.

Houzz - Announces the "Best of Houzz 2015" Winners

January 19, 2015

Authenticity, LLC was honored by Houzz and given two awards: Design & Customer Service.  The Design award was for my Net Zero home project. The Customer Service award was for my wonderful client reviews I received in 2014.  I am delighted to have been recognized for both design & client service!

Vote delayed on Tower Square cafe, by Kevin Abourezk, Lincoln Journal Star

January 8, 2015

Serving the city of Lincoln on the Urban Design Committee. Tom+Chee is planning an outdoor seating area in the new Tower Square and there were some questions about the permanent fencing and how far it went into the square. I am quoted as having a 'hard time with it' and then later in the comments section, quoted again by a reader and I later heard that it was a morning topic of the local radio station! I responded in the comments section of the paper saying: 'There is no question that there will be seating there. I agree that the urban fabric will be definitely benefit. They will have umbrellas to help with the sun which is great. There just was a lack of information in the actual new context. The fencing is permanent and removal of the newly installed pavers will be required. I don't think we were saying no (I am only speaking for myself not the rest of the committee), it was simply more information. Plus, the owner nor the architect were there to ask any questions. So much money, time and effort has gone into the design of this area, I don't think taking a step back to just make sure is a bad thing'  To read the newspaper clipping, click here: page1.

Interiors By Color, www.interiorsbycolor.com

January 1, 2015

My Barn Project was featured on their website under House Tours.  Interiors By Color is a website that features home design, decorating and inspriation pictures from the best interior designers, architects and buildings around the world. You can find out more about this project here.

Tower Lighting Draws Hundreds, by Hailey Konnath, Lincoln Journal Star

December 22, 2014

We went downtown to see the new glass tower "Ascent" lighting. I was looking forward seeing the square because the Jun Kaneko's design came before the Urban Design Committee for approval. After the brilliant lighting, I was approached by Hailey for a quote.  It was fun to be able to express how excited I was for how wonderful the design turned out! (see page 2) The square was first envisioned in the 2005 master plan, but it seems to me that Mayor Beutler's leadership is how this came to be.  To read the newspaper clipping, click here: page1and2.

A law no one follows, by Nancy Hicks, Lincoln Journal Star

December 10, 2014

Serving the city of Lincoln on the Urban Design Committee. The background on this article is that two City Council members, Roy Christensen and Jon Camp, have suggested creating a moratorium on new neighborhood parks to reduce growing maintenance costs.  I am quoted as say I wouldn't support the moratorium and that is correct.  Our committee wants to be involved in any further discussions regarding this as parks are part of the neighborhood fabric.  It seems quite short sighted to me to consider this.  We already have money to buy the land using impact fees.  A neighborhood park is place for kids to play, neighbors to meet and parents with children to hang out.  Ask any mom of preschoolers!  Our parks are one of the reasons people love Lincoln. To read the newspaper clipping, click here: page1.

12,000-square-foot Addition Proposed for Downtown, by Kevin Abourezk, Lincoln Journal Star

December 3, 2014

Serving the city of Lincoln on the Urban Design Committee.  Swanson Russell is planning to expand their offices to the north over their existing parking lot.  I am quoted saying that if it was built like the design, it would be wonderful.  I really was very complimentary of this project.  Jeff Chadwick of Clark Enersen did a great job in the design.  Swanson Russell's project will only continue to enhance our downtown area and I am thankful that they continue to invest in our city.  To read the newspaper clipping, click here: page1.

Panel hears plan for Office Max Building, by Kevin Abourezk, Lincoln Journal Star

October 8, 2014

Serving the city of Lincoln on the Urban Design Committee.  I am quite passionate about making our city even better!  In this article I am quoted regarding the renovated Office Max design on O Street into a community health clinic.  I hoped that the architect should be given a larger budget to make the project sing!  To read the newspaper clipping, click here: page1, page2.

Houzz - Featured Project

Summer, 2014

One of my designs was featured on Houzz.  These two photographs were used from the Neeman project!

American Institute of Architects, Business Section, Lincoln Journal Star

January 27, 2014

I was elected to the American Institue of Architects Nebraska State Board as a Director.  Very proud to serve my fellow architects of Nebraska!  To click the article, click here.

Rushing things at City Hall, Opinion, Lincoln Journal Star

March 17, 2013

Serving the city of Lincoln on the Urban Design Committee.  In this editorial, I am re-quoted discussing my opinion regarding the underside of the Project Oscar.  This editorial was actually a follow up of the article below.  Our committees' concerns weren't given promptly to the Lincoln City Council.  To read the editorial, click here. 

Project Oscar, Concerns get little air time, by Nancy Hicks, Lincoln Journal Star

March 10, 2013

Serving the city of Lincoln on the Urban Design Committee.  In this article, I am quoted regarding my opinion of the underside of Project Oscar.  Our committee had great concerns over the urban context of the this project during this stage.  We went as far as writing a memo that was to be given to the Lincoln City Council.  We also asked the Lincoln city staff to testify during the public hearing on behalf of our committee.  None of this, to our surprise, was done.  However, we followed up with the City Council and they did get our memo and heard our concerns during the next Lincoln City Council Meeting. To read the article, click here. 

AIA Nebraska & AIA Central States Region - Educational Session

Michelle Penn, AIA and Mike Rezac, Rezac Construction

October 5, 2012

Real Home Living: Nebraska Examples of Low Impact Residential Design Including Net Zero, Rainwater Recycling & Greywater Reuse Systems

I spoke about several of my recent Nebraska projects that have used different methods for reducing the amount of energy needed to heat or cool a home.  The methods ranged from passive to active.  Our discussion covered the building envelope, design strategies and high performance mechanical systems to move towards a net zero home.  I also discussed using rainwater recycling project as the home's only source of daily water and utilizing a greywater system for even more water recycling.

Neeman & Sons, L Magazine Ad

September, 2012

I designed a home for the Neeman's and I was very excited to see them use a photograph of their home in one their ads!  I know they love the design as much as I do!  To see the ad, click here!

The Architectural Foundation of Nebraska and the Lincoln Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Home Tour - 1:00 to 4:30 PM on Sunday, September 30, 2012

One of my designs was on the fall home tour and it was an honor to be included.  To see to home and the other designs that were open that day, click on this link. http://www.aiane.org/home-tour/

During the actual show, I handed out fliers that explained what the project was all about.  I was very honored to have been involved with this project.  You can click on the picture below and read all about it! Click the icon in the lower right hand corner to see it full screen.

To see pictures of the actual project, go to my New Construction Tab.

Architects' Home Tour Sunday, NeighborhoodExtra.com

September 29, 2012

Short article naming the homes that will be on the AIA Home Tour.  My project, the Ahlschwede home, is listed!  To read the article, click here.

AIA Architects' Home Tour, by Kathryn Cates Moore, Lincoln Journal Star

September 23, 2012

Main article by the Lincoln Journal Star.  My project, the Ahlschwede home, was noted in a short paragraph.  The article featured Deon Bahr's personal home which was also on the tour.  It was fun to be involved in the AIA Home Tour!  To read the article, click here.

Architects' Home Tour Sept 30, NeighborhoodExtra.com

September 15, 2012

Short article naming the homes that will be in the AIA Home Tour.  My project, the Ahlschwede home, is listed!  To read the article, click here.

Architects' Home Tour, L Magazine

September, 2012

Small ad noting the upcoming AIA Home Tour.  My project, the Ahlschwede home, is listed as the 4005 Orchard Street home!  Very exciting news for Authenticity!  To see the ad, click here.

GeoOutlook Magazine Fall 2012 Issue - The Future of Space Conditioning Today

2012 Vol.9, No.3

Article - The Bridges set to become Nebraska's first geothermal development

by Jennifer Cosentino

This article discusses the Bridges development and the usage of the lake plate heat exchanger sytems used for the geothermal systems.  The Madison is discussed in this article.

Zero-Net Energy Building Science Research - Nebraska Housing Case Study

by Tim Hemsath, University of Nebraska, 2011

This is a case study by Tim Hemsath on five newly constructed Nebraska homes.  Each of the projects uses high performance green building design elements and systems.  My design is the Madison home.  It is the third project reviewed and goes from page 15 to page 18.  To read the study click here.

You Tube Video - Meeting the Green Challenge - Net Zero Houses and Net Metering

by Doug Boyd, January 26, 2010

This is a You Tube video which features two net zero homes.  I designed the Madison which is one of the featured homes.  I am on the video for a short time discussing some of the design features more at the end of the video.  To view the video click here.

Nebraska's first geothermal development is more than a field of dreams

Matt Gersib, Prairie Fire News - published August 2009

This article discusses the Net Zero home I designed in the Bridges neighborhood called the Madison.  To read the article click here.

Green Residential and Small Commercial Buildings - Green By Design

Seminar given with Mike Rezac, Rezac Construction - July 31, 2009

We spoke on green ideas including construction methods, exterior design, interior design, solar and net zero design.

NKBA Nebraska/Kansas Chapter (National Kitchen & Bath Association)

Seminar  - July 11, 2009

I spoke on active and passive design in designing a home.  A home that is designed with the placement of lot and the sun in mind, and has very specific requirements met regarding sun exposure and window location and placement.

Nebraska's 1st Geothermal Neighborhood Under Development

Norris Electric News Magazine - May 2009

This article has several pictures of homes I have designed.  (See pages 8 & 9.)  To read the article click here.

Penn builds on design know-how for Net Zero Energy home project

by Michelle Leach, The Lincoln Business Journal - April 15, 2009

 If you would like to read this article, click here page 1, page 2.

Note: This article is copyrighted by The Lincoln Business Journal.

Nebraska's first net zero house

by Nicole Manske, News Net Nebraska - March 30, 2009

This link is not available anymore.  If you would like to read this article, please contact me.

Energy bills? A home without them is now a reality.

by Algis J. Laukaitis, Lincoln Journal Star - March 10, 2009

To read the article click here for page 1, page 2.

Mayor's Environmental Task Force - Lincoln Mayor Beutler

Presentation given with Mike Rezac, Rezac Construction - February 5, 2009

We spoke on the design and construction of the Net Zero Home project.

New Green Construction Options Being Utilized in Nebraska - January 9, 2009

Seminar presentation given with Mike Rezac, Rezac Construction for the Realtors Association of Lincoln

We spoke on What is a Net Zero Home? & Designing for Energy Efficiency and Net Zero Construction