EMC Downtown Park, Photo Credit Chris Boeke
The Iowa Architectural Foundation (IAF) is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Community Enhancement through Architecture and Design Award and the Community Enhancement through Historic Vitalization Award.
These awards honor those outside the architectural profession who embrace and promote architectural excellence, recognizing that it takes vision, commitment, and resources—not only from architects, but also from civic-minded partners—to make our communities great places in which to live, work, and play.
This year’s jury—Tim Hickman, AIA; James Spiller, AIA; and Jeff Shaffer, AIA—selected two outstanding honorees whose impact on the cultural and built environment of Des Moines is undeniable.
EMC Headquarters, Photo Credit Chris Boeke
Community Enhancement through Architecture and Design
EMC Insurance
EMC Insurance has demonstrated decades-long leadership in enhancing downtown Des Moines through both design excellence and civic investment. Beyond their consistently high-quality headquarters projects, EMC has actively supported the creation and restoration of community spaces—including city parks, overlooks, and skywalks—ensuring they are both beautiful and accessible to the public.
By consistently making design-focused decisions and investing in both new and rehabilitated parks—such as those near their headquarters and at MacRae Park—EMC has fostered a more vibrant downtown and helped sustain the city’s long-term vitality. Their vision and commitment stand as a model of how corporate leadership can advance the built environment for the good of the community.
EMC Skywalk, Photo Credit Cameron Campbell
Jury Comments:
“EMC Insurance has been a leader in community enhancement and urban design, providing beautiful spaces which are accessible to the public.” —James Spiller, AIA
“EMC’s legacy of built work combined with their support of creating new and rehabilitating existing parks… is evidence of their commitment to fostering a vibrant community.” —Jeff Shaffer, AIA
“EMC is, by its nature, a conservative company, yet they have repeatedly made decisions to support the downtown core and have completed all of their building projects at a very high level of both design and construction.” —Tim Hickman, AIA
Community Enhancement through Historic Vitalization
Mainframe Studios
Mainframe Studios, Photo Credit Ryan Damman
Mainframe Studios has redefined what it means to preserve and repurpose a building in Des Moines. Once a Brutalist structure designed for computing infrastructure, it has been boldly transformed into the largest nonprofit creative workspace in the nation. Today, it serves as a thriving hub for working artists and art enthusiasts, anchoring the northern gateway to downtown Des Moines and catalyzing revitalization in the surrounding district.
Mainframe integrates public art directly into its architecture. The Molly Spain mural and Jordan Weber installation broadcast its mission as a champion of the visual arts, while carefully placed new windows respect the original Chick Herbert design and flood the building with natural light. What was once a windowless, background building is now a vital community asset and a point of public fascination.
Today, Mainframe is not only a thriving studio environment but also a beacon of neighborhood revitalization at the northern gateway to downtown.
Mainframe Studios, Photo Credit Ryan Damman
Jury Comments:
“Since the completion of Mainframe Studios, the cultural landscape of Des Moines has been impacted and the opportunities for working visual artists have been transformed.” —Tim Hickman, AIA
“Mainframe Studios has transformed a largely windowless box into a vessel for creative arts… A vital community asset has been realized.” —Jeff Shaffer, AIA
“Mainframe Studios has… transformed [this building] into a thriving community of artists, a point of public fascination, and a building which openly challenges the status quo of expression.” —James Spiller, AIA
About the Awards
IAF’s Community Enhancement Awards celebrate individuals, organizations, agencies, and communities outside the architectural profession whose leadership and vision have made a significant and positive impact on the built environment.
The Community Enhancement through Architecture and Design Award recognizes contributions that support architecture and urban design.
The Community Enhancement through Historic Vitalization Award honors preservation and adaptation projects that reinvigorate historic places.
Some past honorees have included:
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The Ruan Family — for transformative civic and philanthropic investments in Des Moines
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John & Mary Pappajohn — for their impact on arts and architecture across Iowa
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Drake University, Grinnell College, and the University of Iowa — for design-forward campus development and restoration projects
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Marc Moen/Moen Group — for revitalizing downtown Iowa City through thoughtful redevelopment
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Principal Financial and Krause Group — for long-term, transformative investments in the Des Moines cityscape
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Hawkeye Hotels and Des Moines Film — for thoughtful historic restorations of community landmarks
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The Stanley Family — for elevating architectural standards in sustainability
Click here more information about last year’s winners.