Cowles Commons
Des Moines, IA
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Longtime Des Moines landmark Nollen Plaza underwent a name change and a significant transformation that created an important new downtown link from the East Village to the Western Gateway. Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) started the ambitious renovation effort for Nollen Plaza. Cowles Commons provides a new vision and purpose as a world-class cultural and urban destination in the heart of Des Moines. It offers various new features for the park that had served as a downtown mainstay since 1979.
The Cowles Commons design team was led by Ken Smith of Ken Smith Landscape Architect, a landscape architect committed to creating landscapes as a way of improving the quality of urban life. Locally, RDG Planning & Design of Des Moines worked with Ken Smith Landscape Architect while The Weitz Company was the general contractor. Seedorff Masonry, Inc. joined the team to install 71 precast benches (each with a different inspirational thought engraved on the front) and 30,000 square feet of pavers.
A red granite stone surface extends from Capital Square to the Des Moines Civic Center creating “Des Moines’ Red Carpet.” The Red Carpet (a combination of granite and brick pavers) replaces the sunken amphitheater and wading pool and hosts concerts, festivals, markets, outdoor films, and other special events for more than 3,000 visitors.
Project Details
Architect Ken Smith Landscape Architect, RDG Planning & Design
Contractor The Weitz Company
The Cowles Commons design team was led by Ken Smith of Ken Smith Landscape Architect, a landscape architect committed to creating landscapes as a way of improving the quality of urban life. Locally, RDG Planning & Design of Des Moines worked with Ken Smith Landscape Architect while The Weitz Company was the general contractor. Seedorff Masonry, Inc. joined the team to install 71 precast benches (each with a different inspirational thought engraved on the front) and 30,000 square feet of pavers.
A red granite stone surface extends from Capital Square to the Des Moines Civic Center creating “Des Moines’ Red Carpet.” The Red Carpet (a combination of granite and brick pavers) replaces the sunken amphitheater and wading pool and hosts concerts, festivals, markets, outdoor films, and other special events for more than 3,000 visitors.
Project Details
Architect Ken Smith Landscape Architect, RDG Planning & Design
Contractor The Weitz Company
