Iowa Utilities Board - Landscape

Located within the State of Iowa Capitol Complex in Des Moines, Iowa, this project is an infill development on the 6-acre site of a former landfill. As a gateway to the complex at its Southeast corner, the project is a figural and literal threshold to the powerful example of government. It proves that exemplary performance can be solved even within limited budgets.

A central angled courtyard directs visitors to the building entry and, conversely, frames a visual connection to the capitol.

The site design integrates a transition between old and new. The landscape along the northern edge integrates a more formal expression in order to merge this site with that of the larger Capitol Complex. The entrance courtyard is comprised mostly of beds filled with little bluestem, a dominant species in the pre-development history of the state. These more organized plantings blend the building into the landscape while showcasing a symbol of the state’s natural history. The southern half of the 6-acre site employs two site strategies for strong site ecology: a native prairie restoration and a treatment train to filter and capture on-site stormwater.

Additional sustainable site components include:
-Native prairie restoration provides wildlife habitats for native species
-Treats water from the 6-acre site and 6-acres of adjacent land. The stormwater treatment train consists of a stormwater interceptor, infiltration basin, raingardens, bioswales and pervious pavement
-The basins have valves to regulate the system when plants are being established or for longer detention during storm events
-Preferred parking is available on-site for vanpools and alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles; showers are provided to encourage cycling and walking; and parking was reduced to the minimum allowed by local code
-A Geothermal field within the landscaping is tied to dual stage heat pumps accounting for 39% of total energy savings