American Enterprise Group - National HQ Renovation
An invisible rehabilitation of a mid-century jewel adapting the building to modern needs
Information
- Location Des Moines, Iowa
- Size 153,000 SF
- Completion 2015
- Services Working
- Project Type Corporate, Redevelop / Adaptive Reuse
- Certification LEED Silver
Located in Des Moines, Iowa, the eight-story tall American Republic Insurance Building is occupied by American Enterprise Group (AEG) and was originally designed and constructed in 1965 by the New York office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) under architect Gordon Bunshaft, FAIA. BNIM completed an extensive complex renovation of the concrete structure, creating a safer and healthier workplace for AEG employees while carefully preserving the building’s original character and design integrity. BNIM worked to upgrade building systems and lighting to support human health and productivity, as well as provide a functional workplace that integrated current workplace technology. The renovation allowed AEG to retain its 330 employees and provided the company with space to grow for the next 50 years.
Impact + Innovation
This iconic building received an AIA Honor Award for Architecture in 1967. As the building aged, the owner consciously respected its defining characteristics. However, over the next 50 years, numerous finishes and materials deteriorated, and its systems were extremely problematic. In BNIM’s revitalization of the building, the concepts that distinguished the building were preserved and augmented with energy efficient systems. Replacing these systems required substantial demolition of walls and finishes, including the exquisitely detailed executive suites. Following the major demolition of the building to accommodate these new systems, the walls and finishes were meticulously and elegantly reconstructed. The exposed precast concrete “T” and cast-in-place coffered floor structure are one of the defining characteristics of the building. The ductwork, lighting, and acoustical systems were integrated within the ceiling in a unique manner that forms an elegant ceiling expression throughout the majority of the building, creating a glowing series of coffers of light. Five decades following its first honor, the building received another AIA Honor Award for Architecture, in addition to an American Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum.
Process
Preserving the significant architectural and cultural characteristics of the building was of utmost importance during the renovation. BNIM approached the renovation with the intent that its work would be nearly impossible to detect. The effort has been referred to as an “invisible rehabilitation,” a testament to the consideration given to the buildings’ defining features. The decision to rehabilitate the American Enterprise Headquarters building was based on a number of reasons including: the owners’ interest in preserving the building and pursuing Federal and State Historical tax credits, the significance of SOM and Gordon Bunshaft in the advancement of architecture and Modernist Buildings, and the advancements in office buildings presented in the structure such as 90 feet clearspan office space and integration of air distribution, lighting, and acoustical treatment in the ductwork system.
People
Team
- Rod Kruse
- Carey Nagle
- Levi Robb
- Tina Wehrman
- Kayla Berkson
- Kevin Nordmeyer
- Jeff Shaffer
- Dana Sorensen
- Paul Kempton
- Soumya Rao
- Philip Bona
- Lana Zoet
Client
American Enterprise Group
Awards
The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture & Design & The European Centre for Architecture Art
The American Architecture Award
2017
State of Iowa Historical Society
William J. Wagner Award
2017
DOCOMOMO
Citation of Merit, Commercial, Design
2017
AIA Iowa
Merit Award, Excellence in Design
2017
Preservation Iowa
Excellence in Historic Preservation, Large Commercial Category
2016
Architectural Record
Good Design is Good Business
2016
American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Honor Award
2016
AIA Kansas
Honor Award, Excellence in Architecture
2016
City of Des Moines Community Development
Excellence in Historic Preservation
2015
AIA Kansas City
Honor Award
2015
AIA Central States Region
Honor Award, Historic Preservation or Adaptive Reuse
2015