For generations, the building at 13th and O in Lincoln, Neb., was more than a department store — it was a downtown landmark woven into the daily lives of Lincoln families. Long before it became Nelnet Center, the space bustled as Miller & Paine, a beloved retailer known for its warm bakery smells, conveyor belt donuts, and the city’s first escalators that fascinated kids who rode them up and down for fun.
Today, with Nelnet as its caretaker, that same building is alive again — not as a place to shop, but as a place to connect, collaborate, and build the future together. Nelnet purchased the building in 2006, beginning a long-term commitment to preserving a downtown landmark while reimagining how it could serve associates and the community today.
Why This Building? A Decision Rooted in Purpose
Choosing Nelnet Center as the heart of Nelnet’s operations wasn’t just a real estate decision. It was an intentional investment in people, place, and community.
The priority was clear: bring teams together in one downtown location to strengthen connection, communication, and collaboration. Nelnet Center — a building the company already owned — was the natural choice.
But ownership was only part of the story. Its legacy mattered, too.
We wanted a headquarters that meant something — to our associates, to Lincoln, and to our history, This building gave us the opportunity to honor where we’ve been while rethinking how we work today. By bringing teams together in a space with deep roots, we’re investing in connection, collaboration, and the future of our company.
Nelnet Chief Executive Officer
For more than a century, this building has anchored downtown Lincoln. By revitalizing it rather than moving elsewhere, Nelnet honored that history while creating a central, vibrant hub for associates and visitors.
Honoring the Past: A Building With Stories in Its Walls
Associates and visitors walking through Nelnet Center will still find touches of Miller & Paine throughout, with exposed rafters and architectural details that have stood for decades. Anyone who enters is welcomed by an iconic exterior awning stamped with the Miller & Paine insignia.
Historic nuggets bring the building’s past to life in small but meaningful ways. Longtime Lincoln residents still talk about the famous Miller & Paine cinnamon rolls and the basement cafeteria where they were first created. Today, that tradition lives on — Miller & Paine cinnamon rolls are still available at another ionic Lincoln business, Runza.
Longtime Nebraska resident and former Miller & Paine customer Warren Everts first remembers visiting the store beginning in 1945 at the age of nine. When asked what he’d like to do, he ran around, rode the escalator, and wandered between stores. He distinctly recalls the bakery with a conveyor belt of hot, fresh donuts. “I heard the hype around the M&P cinnamon rolls, but never had enough pocket money to purchase one,” he adds.
Revitalizing this space meant preserving these memories — and giving the building a new chapter.
“When I told my grandpa I was working in the historic Miller & Paine building, he lit up, reminiscing about coming here as a child,” says Bethany Everts, Nelnet Corporate Marketing Intern and granddaughter of longtime Miller & Paine customer Warren Everts.
It's incredible to see how Nelnet transformed the space into a modern, welcoming environment while still honoring the building's history. Working here, I feel connected to him and to Lincoln's past — and I’m honored to be a small part of this building’s continuing story.
Nelnet Corporate Marketing Intern
Thoughtful Transformation: Designed With Intention
Inside, the transformation blends the historic character of the building with a light filled, welcoming modern design. In fact, the Nelnet Lincoln Square Public Space Improvements project, designed by Clark & Enersen, won a 2022 AIA Central States Excellence in Design Honor Award in the Interior Architecture category.
Nelnet Center’s additional environmental design work — including signage and artwork — came together through a close collaboration between Nelnet Facilities, Corporate Marketing & Communications, and local partners Revolution Wraps and Nebraska Sign. The project also included the addition of Nelnet brand signage at the top of the building, strengthening Lincolnites’ connection to Nelnet’s downtown presence.
Marketing Manager Tammi Marsh, Art Director Jake Chapman, Copy Director Jeff Deans, and Marketing Coordinator Alena Hernandez worked behind the scenes to coordinate everything from floor specific design themes to the logistics of installing graphics throughout the building.
Marsh helped guide the project’s overall strategy, coordinating across teams and ensuring the visual direction aligned with Nelnet’s brand story and culture. An important part of that work was reinforcing design standards used across Nelnet locations — creating a consistent, unified associate experience.
The design prioritizes:
- Open, collaborative workspaces.
- Bright, approachable graphics that feel welcoming, not corporate.
- Subtle integration of Nelnet’s mission, vision, and values into the space.
- Conference rooms and environmentals inspired by shared values of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and philanthropy.
- Environmental graphics that celebrate associate contributions and reinforce a sense of connection.
Environmental design is unlike any other type of design — you have to consider how people move, what they see, and how it feels.
Art Director
Hernandez helped bring the experience of Lincoln into the building by incorporating neighborhood inspired visuals on each floor. “We wanted the break rooms to feel friendly and upbeat — places where associates could spot familiar icons from around the city,” she explains.
The result is a workplace that feels both familiar and new — grounded in community, yet designed for the future. Nelnet Center is one example of how teams across the company continue to invest in work environments that support collaboration, belonging, and flexibility at all of Nelnet’s locations.
Together, these details support Nelnet’s commitment to creating an awesome work environment where associates feel welcome, inspired, and connected.
A Modern Touch: The Green Squirrel Café
On the first floor, a special addition brings a fresh burst of energy into Nelnet Center:
The Green Squirrel, a modern café and collaborative space for associates.
Designed as a warm, creative gathering spot, the café features:
- Seating for casual conversations and team brainstorming.
- Two reservable conference rooms (Grove and Treehouse).
- Affordable coffee, breakfast, and lunch options.
- A vibrant graffiti mural created by David Guerrero, artist and former Nelnet associate.
The Green Squirrel adds something new to the building — a nod to Nelnet’s culture of curiosity, connection, and community — while subtly echoing the building’s past as a place where Lincoln residents gathered to recharge.
Nelnet Center doesn’t just provide room to work — it creates a place where associates can connect more easily, strengthening communication and collaboration across teams. Bringing people together in one space helps ideas move faster and relationships grow stronger.
Designed with people at the center, the building encourages chance encounters, shared moments, and a sense of belonging that goes beyond desks and meeting rooms. Open sightlines, welcoming graphics, and thoughtfully designed gathering spaces make it easier for associates to feel connected — to their work and to one another.
Associates describe the building as welcoming and energizing, and they appreciate carefully chosen lobby music that sets the tone for the day. (Hernandez shares that it even included “Hit Me Baby One More Time” after a charity pie in the face fundraiser ended with Noordhoek playfully pieing Chief People Services Officer Emily Olinger in the lobby.)
A Community Hub Once Again
Just as Miller & Paine was once a gathering place for Lincoln, Nelnet Center has quickly reclaimed that role.
Today, it hosts:
- Halloween trick or treat events for families.
- Volunteer projects like interns preparing meals to go for People’s City Mission.
- Fundraisers such as the pie-in-the-face fundraiser for BraveBe Child Advocacy Center (where Olinger was famously pied).
- A steady flow of associates whose presence boosts business for downtown restaurants and shops.
- A modern event space that supports more than 60 events annually.
Nelnet’s downtown presence also supports broader revitalization efforts led by partners like the Downtown Lincoln Association, which works to create a vibrant, welcoming city center.
Local partners like Revolution Wraps and Nebraska Sign were intentionally selected to support the community — reinforcing Nelnet’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the communities it serves.
Nelnet Center isn’t just a building. It’s a shared space that brings people together and strengthens the community that surrounds it.
Local partners like Revolution Wraps and Nebraska Sign were intentionally selected to support the community — reinforcing Nelnet’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the communities it serves.
Nelnet Center isn’t just a building. It’s a shared space that brings people together and strengthens the community that surrounds it.
Looking Ahead: A Space That Will Keep Evolving
Much like the people who work inside it, Nelnet Center will continue to grow and evolve.
The revitalization of downtown Lincoln continues beyond Nelnet Center. Just west of the building, plans are underway for Lincoln’s new Central Library, further strengthening the area as a destination for work, learning, and community connection.
This transformation represents just one chapter in Nelnet’s story — part of a longer history rooted in growth, adaptability, and community impact.
New artifacts such as historical photos and building blueprints will eventually be displayed. More associates will move into the building over time. The space will keep improving based on feedback — and the team’s ongoing desire to make the workplace better for everyone.
By honoring the past and embracing the future, Nelnet Center stands as a symbol of what’s possible when a building’s purpose is reimagined with care.
Join Us: Be Part of What’s Happening Here
At Nelnet, investing in associates and communities isn’t a tagline — it’s our mission. Nelnet Center reflects that belief with every detail, welcoming associates into a place where they can grow, connect, and do meaningful work together.
Whether you’re early in your career or looking for a place to grow long term, Nelnet Center is designed to help people thrive. Explore current job opportunities and discover what #LifeAtNelnet can look like for you.
