Bruce Niedermyer Named 2026 Iowa State University Outstanding Young Alumni
Niedermyer has been recognized for excelling in his profession and for serving his community.
The Iowa State University Alumni Association has recognized RDG Landscape Architect and Senior Partner Bruce Niedermyer, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP, with the 2026 Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Established in 1968, the award recognizes Iowa State University alumni aged 40 or younger who have excelled professionally and served their communities. Niedermyer is a 2011 graduate of the ISU College of Design program, where he was involved in the Design Exchange Learning Community and the Christina Hixson Opportunity Awards program.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Iowa State, Niedermyer joined RDG Planning & Design in 2012 and has built a career centered on collaboration, strategic leadership and community impact. Today, as a senior partner, he guides work spanning urban design, parks, higher education and urban planning. His work has shaped communities in nearly 20 states and received dozens of awards for design excellence.
Niedermyer’s commitment to leadership and service extends beyond his work at RDG. He has been actively involved with the American Society of Landscape Architects throughout his career, serving in numerous leadership roles, including as president of the Iowa chapter from 2016 to 2019. He also maintains a strong connection to Iowa State through the Christina Hixson Opportunity Awards Program, which provided him with a scholarship as a student. Since 2019, he has served on the Hixson Alumni Board, mentoring students, supporting fundraising initiatives and assisting first-generation scholars from all 99 Iowa counties.
Niedermyer is also actively involved in community service in Logan, Iowa, and the Omaha metropolitan area. In Logan, he serves on several community boards, including the Logan Community Foundation, where he supports projects that strengthen the community’s future. He was selected for the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Leadership Omaha Class 46 and serves on Keep Omaha Beautiful’s Board of Directors, where he chairs the advocacy and development committee.
The Outstanding Young Alumni Award is part of the annual Homecoming Honors and Awards, where Iowa State University welcomes alumni and friends back during homecoming week to recognize the honorees for their outstanding achievements, leadership and service to the community. The 95th Annual Honors and Awards ceremony took place on Friday, October 2, in Ames, Iowa.