Location
West Des Moines, Iowa
Year
2022
Size
50,000 SF
Client
Galloway Holdings, LLC
Project Team
Todd Garner
Yasmine Killeen
Matt Rodekamp
Oaks on Grand is envisioned to be a multi-tenant office campus oriented around an existing pond shared with an adjacent community college in suburban West Des Moines, IA. The owner of the narrow 11-acre site wanted to maximize the available space with visually appealing buildings that provided functional space and shared amenities with a connection to the outdoors without overcrowding the area. Substance Architecture developed a campus master plan orienting three office buildings around the existing pond with landscaping and paved walking trails linking the buildings and connecting them to the existing development.
The first building constructed provides space for four tenants within its 50,000-square foot volume. Protected by a grand overhang, large windows along the west facade of the two-story building provide a strong visual connection to the restored pond with a ground-level multi-purpose room opening to an exterior terrace and amphitheater which invites tenants to engage with the site. The remaining three elevations feature a combination of glass and dark metal panels. The landscaping between buildings further enhances the campus feel. This building was fully leased before completion, setting a high standard for subsequent structures on the campus.
Oaks on Grand is the epitome of how architecture can integrate with the environment. The orientation of the buildings around the pond and the use of limited materials—here, wood, metal paneling, and glass—are two examples of subtle but impactful approaches. The 50,000-square foot, two-story office building features extensive glazing and wood facing the pond, while the other sides have dark metal panels and glass. This approach both creates the desired visual harmony that enhances the site's natural beauty and ensures that each structure complements its surroundings, making the development not just a place of business but a part of the landscape itself.
The careful use of materials and natural features including extensive native plantings showcase the team’s knowledge of, and commitment to, environmental stewardship. Each example enhances the site's aesthetic appeal and contributes to the well-being of its users and the broader ecosystem.
Site Axon
Serving not just the office tenants, this development has become a community amenity. By offering shared amenities and completing the pathway around the pond, Oaks on Grand encourages interaction among tenants and has become a popular destination for walking and fishing. The amphitheater and landscaped areas offer spaces for relaxation and events, creating a vibrant atmosphere that extends beyond the conventional office setting.
Substance and DCI Group worked closely to successfully deliver this project using the design-build delivery method. This process allowed us to collaborate early and often to better understand material costs and construction methods, ultimately elevating the design and detailing of the project. Unique, on budget, and on schedule, this project highlights Substance’s strength in managing complex projects through the design-build delivery method and our commitment to achieving cohesive and successful architectural solutions.
Level 1 Plan
Level 2 Plan
MEP Engineer (Design-Build)
Baker Group
Structural Engineer
Raker Rhodes Engineering LLC
Civil Engineer
Bishop Engineering
Landscape Architect
Hoerr Schaudt
General Contractor
DCI Group, Inc.
Photography by Corey Gaffer
