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Capitol Square

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1983–1984, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. 400 Locust St.

Early-1980s Modernism, its insistent theme being strong horizontal layers, is here realized through bands of continuous horizontal windows and accompanying spandrels. This same theme is repeated in the interior eight-story atrium court. On the ground floor of the court is a small circular pool accompanied by six raised circular rings; within each of these is a small, forlorn, somewhat lost tree. It all adds up to SOM's usual design sophistication, with a strong sense of the hygienic.

Writing Credits

Author: 
David Gebhard and Gerald Mansheim
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Data

What's Nearby

The Plaza
Des Moines National Bank (now Valley National Bank)
The Kaleidoscope at the Hub; Hub Tower
Equitable Life Assurance Company
Civic Center / Nollen Plaza

Citation

David Gebhard and Gerald Mansheim, "Capitol Square", [Des Moines, Iowa], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/IA-01-CE122.

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