How OrthoNebraska Uses Nature Art to Get Patients Back to What They Love

There’s something special about getting to return to a space years later and continue the story.

When OrthoNebraska expanded their Elkhorn location to include a newly completed surgery center, we were excited to collaborate again with the incredible teams at OrthoNebraska, Leo A Daly, and McCarthy Building Companies to bring nature art into the new environment.

This project was especially meaningful since we were there from the very beginning of the original clinic, walking the space in hard hats and measuring walls while construction was still underway. Seeing how their facility keeps growing to meet the needs of the community never gets old.

Located at OrthoNebraska’s Elkhorn clinic at 3415 South 205th Street in Omaha, the facility includes orthopedic care, orthopedic urgent care, imaging, physical therapy, sports performance, and now this beautiful surgical expansion.

Katie Benak, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at OrthoNebraska talks to Carolyn Johnson of Kurt Johnson Photography.

A Surgery Center That Feels Like Home

From the start, OrthoNebraska was clear about what they wanted this space to feel like.

Katie Benak, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at OrthoNebraska, put it simply:

“That’s what we’re about, getting people back to the things they love. And there’s great synergy in that with nature. Whether it’s looking at a picture of grass and you can almost feel the movement in it or a flower and you feel that like warm fuzzy spring feeling. That’s what we wanted –  good vibes, good energy, and movement.”

That mission shaped every decision that followed, including the art.

Sabrina Ahern, NCIDQ, IIDA Associate, Senior Interior Designer at LEO A DALY, described the design vision for the surgery center as having more of a boutique hospitality feel:

“The surgery center had this hospitality vibe… and it did exactly what we needed it to do. Bringing in a little bit more of that feeling, but still maintaining the brand and the expectation that we’ve already set with the other OrthoNebraska spaces.”

Bright Brand Colors Meet Biophilic Design

One of the most fun parts of this project? OrthoNebraska’s branding.

Their bright greens, blues, and purples naturally lend themselves to vibrant nature photography and abstract organic imagery. Throughout the surgery center, we pulled in colorful botanicals, agates, and nature-inspired imagery designed around the brand palette already woven throughout the architecture and interiors.

But there was more intention behind it than just color matching. As Ahern explained:

“There’s a healing piece that comes with having biophilic imagery in a space. In healthcare settings, we’re limited in how much true biophilia we can bring in, so this was a really great way to have bright, vibrant colors that go with their brand, but also bring in that imagery of nature and healing.”

The Story Behind the “Slices”

If you look closely at several of the larger installations throughout the common areas and nurses’ stations, the artwork isn’t made up of a single image. Instead, multiple nature photographs are combined to create one larger piece.

These layered pieces, called “color-slices,” create movement through the space. And like all the artwork, there was intention behind why they were used.

“The slices go with that movement of the healing process. You see them in the common spaces, entrances, waiting areas, and nurse stations because everything is cohesively going together.” – Sabrina Ahern, NCIDQ, IIDA Associate, Senior Interior Designer at LEO A DALY

Jeff Monzu, Senior Director of Health and Wellness at Leo A Daly, described why they work so well: “The big canvas pieces are just fun and they’re vibrant – and they move you through that space.”

Meanwhile, the individually framed pieces appear in exam rooms and quieter hallway spaces, creating something more personal, and still. It mirrors the patient journey itself.

The shared spaces represent the larger process – the movement, the system of care.

The more private spaces narrow into singular moments: individual experiences, conversations, and unique healing journeys. Even the art knows when it’s time to lower its voice.

Functional Protection That Still Feels Beautiful

Also standing out in the new surgery center are the custom nurse stations printed on wall protection by Inpro. They’re easy for patients to find and hold up to heavy daily use, constant movement, and equipment traffic. Because durable doesn’t have to mean sterile or uninspired.

The vibrant healthcare artwork transformed these stations into focal points while still serving an important protective purpose.

As Ahern put it: “It’s functioning to protect the space that it needs to protect, but it’s also bringing this beautiful imagery into spaces that don’t always get it.”

And that matters just as much for the care teams as it does for patients.

Healthcare workers spend countless hours in these environments every single day. Creating spaces that feel uplifting and calming can have a real impact on both patients and staff.

Monzu described it perfectly: “Staff is back there all the time, and so making it not such a dull environment is important.”

Collaboration Makes the Difference

Projects like this only happen because architects, designers, contractors, marketing teams, and art consultants are all working toward the same vision.

Monzu explained:

“A lot of our projects can be thought of as a commodity. Just a bidding process to get work. What we do with OrthoNebraska is a partnership. We understand their brand, we understand what’s important to them. So, when a new project begins, we can skip all the figuring-it-out phase and move straight to executing. We can move a lot faster because of that trust.“

Ahern added, what makes the art side of that collaboration so effective:

“The cohesion from piece to piece all the way through the building is such a beautiful connection. You can work with anybody who puts art on walls, but when you have one team that truly understands the space and the brand, it shows.”

Benak reflected on what this expansion really means:

“You just can’t underestimate what artwork does to a space. It’s very easy to overlook it when there’s so much else going in… big equipment, long checklists. But it transforms the energy of the space. It helps our team members feel like this is somewhere they can get comfortable. It brings it all together.”

“This is where we can heal.”

Huge thanks to the teams at Leo A Daly, McCarthy Building Companies, OrthoNebraska, and Inpro. It’s a privilege to keep being part of these spaces and to play even a small role in helping people get back to the things they love.