Located in Des Moines' Western Gateway Park, adjacent to the new Downtown Des Moines Public Library, the Pappajohn Education Center inverts the traditional classroom building. Public circulation corridors, study spaces, a student lounge, and a large formal lobby face the park, as a core of flexible classroom space holds tight to the street edge. Architectural cast-in-place concrete structure, glass curtain wall exterior, and exposed mechanical systems form a backdrop for state of the art presentation technology located in each classroom. Tiered classrooms and a two-story reading and study room cantilever over the park on the second and third levels to create covered walkways at the building perimeter for pedestrians enjoying the park and outdoor classroom space.

awards

Honor Award, 2005
American Institute of Architects - Central States Region

Honor Award, 2005
American Institute of Architects - Iowa Chapter

publications

Iowa Architect, 05:253
Contract, February 2006