Knopik receives October Gold ‘U’

Nick Knopik, a construction project manager in UNMC Facilities Management and Planning, has gone a long way and yet not very far at all.

Knopik, who received the Chancellor’s Gold ‘U’ for October, was born at Clarkson Hospital, where he also worked as a laboratory technician from 1983 to 1999.

Nick Knopik — who served as the construction manager for the renovation of Bennett Hall — received the Chancellor’s ‘Gold’ U for the month of October.

While in that job, he decided to pursue his dream of being an architect. He earned his degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and then worked at a local firm for nine years before he ended up back on the medical center campus in 2006 when he stepped into his current role at UNMC.

Knopik oversaw the renovation of Bennett Hall — the new home of the School of Allied Health Professions. His efforts in that renovation — the building’s first since 1962 — were key to his selection for the Gold ‘U’ award.

“Nick’s detail and extreme patience trying to meet all the requests from the different programs was amazing,” said an allied health staff member who nominated Knopik for the Gold ‘U.’ “I truly commend his efforts and skills, which made our new home so efficient and beautiful. It is a joy to walk into such a wonderful building and office.”

In his job, Knopik coordinates work on the projects he manages and selects building furnishings all with a close eye on project budgets.

Below, he comments on the balancing act that is his job and the rewards it brings.

On the challenges of the job

With the budgets, it becomes a lot of give and take. We want to give people what they want and it takes a lot of research to find a way to do that and keep it cost effective.

On the Bennett Hall renovation

When it was over, all I really wanted to do was go home and take a nap. But, in all honesty, I think it’s a really beautiful building and I’m proud to have been a part of that project.

On the rewards of his job

I enjoy seeing people who are happy in their workspaces. For some in Bennett Hall, the upgrade in was really significant and it was neat to see them so happy to come to work because of their new workspaces.