Lying adjacent to the historic Mies van der Rohe Catholic Pastoral Center, a perforated metal veil unifies the upper floors of Miesblock along its most public southern faces, and in a nod to it’s neighbors history, incorporates themes referencing the Bauhaus.

The 3,364 square foot facility included surgical suites, kennels, examination rooms, and administrative areas.

Consistent with other medical projects in our portfolio, special care was utilized in the design, with regard to a clean environment to minimize the concern for disease in the facility. Separate HVAC systems for humans and animals are a great example of the many unique design opportunities in an animal care facility.

The project was completed from the ground up in five and a half months. The location of the facility was in a transition area from commercial to residential, hence the sensitive design that eased such transition.

The project consisted of ten foot wide by thirteen foot tall structural precast concrete wall panels and structural steel with interior spans of forty feet. The specialized dock equipment and “in floor” heating were interesting aspects in the construction.

Other aspects of the project included a specialized floor hardener for the interior concrete slab, office and restrooms at the receiving area, and the new storage area.

To complete this system, the project required a large amount of underground rough-in of electrical, plumbing, oxygen, and gas to the exact locations of the dental equipment.

This project had a nice design flare with many drywall reglet and reveals, radius walls, and decorative custom millwork consisting of a floating wood ceiling and reception desk.

The massive windows, open floor plan, and 18-foot ceilings allow natural light to stream in – and ideas to flow more easily around the office.

In addition to fostering collaboration, this downtown office provides a more appropriate vantage point for observing the action in the city’s core. The Sixth Avenue address makes the Nelson office part of Des Moines’ so-called “Silicon Sixth,” its epicenter of entrepreneurial creativity.

The project was completed in three phases to allow the existing tenants to remain operational. Time was of the essence to finish the space so that business could continue without interruption.

The 22,000 square foot facility was renovated to the high standards of the medical personnel, and therefore we were asked to come back and complete a fourth phase, on year later.

Situated at 405 Sixth Ave. between Locust Street and Grand Avenue, the $25 million project preserved the Art Deco detailing in the lobby and the wedding cake-esque 360-degree rooftop patio, which serves as an events venue for residents and the public. The building also features ground-level access to the city skywalk system, free parking, social lounges, and modern interiors.

Construction started on the Fleming Building in May 2012, transforming it into modern commercial and residential space with modern mechanical, plumbing, and interior design. The project was completed in June of 2013. The first and second floors offer commercial space and floors three through eleven feature 96 apartments to meet the growing demand for market-rate housing in the area.

This 22,800 square foot building has been converted from a run-down, unused building to a haven for design firms and retail tenants. 1300 Walnut is home to some of Des Moines’ most talented design and marketing professionals, including Brian Clark and Associates Landscape Architecture, Substance Architecture, and OnPurpos, a graphic design firm. 1300 Walnut has more than its share of local talent.

The Nelson team realized the potential of this building and its particular placement in relation to the planned Western Gateway Park. The redevelopment of 1300 Walnut is a prime example of development that can and will occur along the Western Gateway in the future.

The renovation of 1300 Walnut expands on the structure that was built in 1925 as a car dealership. From the bridge-like steel trusses that span the 17 foot ceilings to the 10 foot by 20 foot windows, this building has become a distinctive architectural presence in downtown Des Moines.

The retrofit of the existing structure began by recreating several main structural members while keeping the structure in position. Careful coordination was needed to ensure the three floors of the addition were exactly in-line with the existing three floor levels.

The space was designed to play host to a variety of uses, including office space, board room, training, and job fairs. This led to reemergence of this 1900’s car dealership as an open, attractive environment to the patrons and employees operating in the space.

The design of the building is centered around the dramatic curtain wall entrance feature. Large windows surround the perimeter, along with ten foot ceilings,  creating an open and inviting office space.

This development project was challenging due to unsuitable soils present on the site, the aggressive schedule required by the tenants, and the high tech infrastructure needed to house the tenants.

This in-fill redevelopment site offered many opportunities and challenges. The high profile site along University Avenue was important for the City of Windsor Heights. The site had significant grade change along University Avenue and Remax Real Estate also required as many perimeter offices as could be loaded around the core uses of the building.

This redevelopment combines below-grade parking, multi-story office space, and a ‘retail’ exposure for ReMax, as well as ease of entrance for their clientele.

The building needed to be respectful of the scale of the nearby single family homes while balancing the redevelopment on the opposite side of University Avenue in size and scale.

Shiffler was the lead designer of the exterior image while AR&D provided the same design work for the interior as they have in past inPlay sites in Peoria, IL and Omaha, NE. The overall cost of the project was $8.3 million. Construction began in mid August, 2006, and was completed in March, 2007.

A private health club occupies the first floor and includes state-of-the-art fitness equipment, health training, and juice bar. MetaBank has a branch and office on the second and third floors of the building, with a law office and other commercial users occupying other floors.

There are 16 luxury condominiums on floors 9 through 11, ranging from 1,070 to 2,500 square feet. The seven foot by five foot operable windows give unending views of the city. The construction quality of the landmark structure gives the security that buyers expect in a project of this caliber. This project successfully brought residents and businesses back to the center of downtown Des Moines.

The planned unit development was framed around a depot concept relating to the proximity of a nearby rail line. The buildings within this development incorporate design elements from Depot Architecture of the early 1900’s. This design concept leads to the large arched windows and a strong statement of structural elements.

The Depot offers a mid-rise office opportunity for professional offices. The highest quality finishes, as well as a premium location, sets this development apart from the rest.