Enjoy Iowa Architectural Foundation's one-day-only architectural walking tour, Reaching New Heights — that celebrates iconic 1970s architecture downtown Des Moines. Reaching New Heights will highlight the three most prominent downtown Des Moines buildings of the 1970s — the Financial Center (1973-1974), the Ruan Center (1975) and the Civic Center (1979) and give you new insights as you hear the stories behind them. Architectural historian Jennifer Irsfeld James has developed an eye-opening tour after researching the 25-story Corporate International Style Financial Center, designed as the tallest building to be built in the city and state in 50 years. The Financial Center's $21 million project investment and 25 stories plus underground parking, set a new standard for downtown development, boosting confidence in downtown investment.

Who were the main players who began to breathe life into downtown? What were the key influences? Learn this and more when you attend IAF's Des Moines' The 70s Turn 50 tour, just one of the Docomomo US celebrations nationwide.

Details

Saturday October 10, 2020

Two in-person, socially distanced sidewalk tours will be given at 11:00 am  and 12:30 pm Central.

$30/person

Tours will depart from the Iowa Center for Architecture in Capital Square.

Each tour will include a maximum of 15 people. Guides will wear face shields and head-microphones.

Purchase your tickets in advance as space is limited.