IAF’s 2025 contribution to the Blank Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees celebrated the three Iowa “jewel box” banks designed by famed architect Louis Sullivan.
Sullivan designed eight small Midwestern banks and commercial buildings between 1908 and 1920. They include Merchants National Bank in Grinnell, Peoples Savings Bank in Cedar Rapids and the Henry Adams Building in Algona. While all three no longer serve their original functions, they stay standing among Iowa’s famed historical architecture.
Small in stature compared to Sullivan’s skyscraper designs, the “jewel box” buildings are nonetheless adorned with beautiful, nature-inspired ornamentation including iron work, terra cotta tiles and stained-glass windows that were hallmarks throughout his career.
Our tree and vignette honor Sullivan’s design elements with oversized jewel baubles, one-of-a-kind gold tooling ornaments created by Meredith Middle School seventh-grade students under the guidance of art teacher Ashley Wisgerhof, and ornaments featuring images of the Algona, Cedar Rapids and Grinnell buildings. Latitude Signage + Design crafted our specialty photographic ornaments with original images taken by Bob Jennings, Karl Kaufman, and Kristin McHugh-Johnston. David Raver, head lighting designer at RDG Planning & Design, created the accent lighting. Amy Simmons with Interface arranged our vignette carpet.
We wish everyone, especially the patients, families, and staff of Blank Children’s Hospital, comfort, happiness, and joy throughout this holiday season!