BNIM Berkebile Nelson Immenschuh McDowell Architects

BNIM Architects and Steven Holl Architects Selected to Design New Arts Building for University of Iowa Arts Campus

Des Moines, Iowa and Kansas City, Mo. (February 17, 2010) – BNIM Architects, in collaboration with Steven Holl Architects, has been awarded the commission for the new art studio facility for The University of Iowa (UI) Arts campus.

The new building is to replace an original arts building from 1936, which was heavily damaged during the June 2008 flood at the University of Iowa campus. The proposed site is directly adjacent to and northwest of the Art Building West, also designed by Steven Holl Architects. Rod Kruse of BNIM Des Moines collaborated with Steven Holl Architects as the managing architect for the project, which opened in 2006 and received numerous awards, including the AIA 2007 Institute Honor Award for Architecture.

The selection process, which was to find an architect-led team and not to select a specific design, was organized by The University of Iowa. The Selection Committee, chaired by UI Facilities Management project manager Beverly Robalino, chose Steven Holl Architects with BNIM Architects, for their “creativity and attention to complex issues on an exciting but difficult site. The Steven Holl Architects/BNIM team displayed awareness and sensitivity to an adjacent residential neighborhood, a solid understanding of challenges related to FEMA-supported projects, and a unique connection to the site’s most direct contextual neighbor; Holl’s celebrated Art Building West.”

UI Facilities Management Director of Planning, Design & Construction Rod Lehnertz said, “the University unanimously chose the team of Steven Holl and BNIM based on our confidence in what the team brings to the table, and in the positive results of our past partnerships. We feel fortunate to, once again, have the opportunity to work with Steven Holl Architects, as together we advance a new building fitting the top-level program that will reside there. As was the case the last time Steven Holl came to our campus, this will be a project that will create success for both the School of Art & Art History and The University of Iowa.”

Steven Holl said, “We are very pleased to be able to work again with The University of
Iowa towards the creation of campus space as well as a new, inspiring facility for the arts.”

“Creating inspiring campus facilities and campus space is a core part of BNIM’s mission,” said BNIM Principal Rod Kruse, FAIA. “We believe that the experience, creativity and collaborative approach the team of BNIM and Steven Holl brings to the Arts Building will result in an important asset for the University to further arts education and define a world-class campus.”


Erin Gehle
BNIM
816.783.1582 p
egehle@bnim.com