Our clients range from individuals to Fortune 100 corporations and Board of Regents Universities. Regardless of project type or scale, our clients choose Substance Architecture for similar reasons.
We focus first on understanding your aspirations for how your project can transform your business, community, campus, or home. Through constant collaboration and a commitment to listening and learning, we transform initial ideas into elegant, functional designs that resonate with your vision and purpose while aligning with your budget. Our approach is grounded in trust, open dialogue, and a relentless pursuit of excellence and leads to remarkable projects that surpass initial expectations.
Our approach to project management makes owners’ jobs easier. We believe in transparency and open communication, from working with you to set up project fees and taking meticulous meeting minutes, to quickly responding to contractor questions which keep projects running smoothly. We will provide information and options to help you make the best-informed decisions for your project. And, our staff will remain consistent throughout your project from concept through construction to ensure the built details support the early vision.
In every project, there are decisions to be made which can be truly transformational. We thrive on these challenges and the possibilities they present—and our clients love them, too. Utilizing the natural topography eliminated the need for elevators in a corporate campus parking ramp which saved the owner a significant amount of money. By capturing excess energy produced by the glassblowing furnaces and using it to reheat the building’s air systems, Iowa State University’s Student Innovation Center lives up to its name in both function and performance. For Lely North America, the decision to combine office, manufacturing, and distribution functions under one roof has changed employee culture to emphasize unity and shared goals. The introduction of daylight and the utilization of electric lifts enhances employee recruitment and retention while reinforcing the company’s dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainability.
Good design has the power to tangibly enhance the quality of people's lives. From revitalizing a riverwalk with accessible, iconic spaces to designing high-performing, sustainable structures that promote community well-being, each of our projects shows our commitment to making a positive impact. By prioritizing functionality, inclusivity, and environmental responsibility, we create spaces that foster connectivity and elevate everyday experiences.
Bussinessolver, Inc.
The City of Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART)
Drake University
Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines
George Kittle
Holmes Murphy
Jasper Winery
Knapp Properties
Makoce Agriculture Development
NDN Collective
Pella Corporation
Jane and Bob Sturgeon
The University of Iowa
The Weitz Company
United States Postal Service
Cemen Tech
The City of Waukee, Iowa
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Fryar Private Wealth
Gong Fu Tea
Iowa State University
JLL
Lely North America
Yorame Mevorach
Neighborhood Development Corporation
Rypma Properties
Tifereth Israel Synagogue
The University of Northern Iowa
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
