The Deco is a mixed-used building located in downtown Des Moines in the developing neighborhood just south of the Pappa John Sculpture Park. Schemmer provided architecture; geotechnical, civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering services for this project.
The building footprint utilized the entire property area and even incorporated railroad easements to maximize rentable area. The primary facades face to the east and south of 13th Street and Mulberry. The ground level commercial space opens up to, and are accessible from, the pedestrian friendly 13th street connecting it with the sculpture garden and other downtown amenities. The main residential entry is located on the south elevation and provides easy access to available garage and street parking.
The project has 78 residential apartments on floors two through five and the ground level has available commercial space. There are several amenities located on the first and second floor. These include a public courtyard overlooking 13th Street, exercise facilities, covered parking and guest rooms. There are a range of studio to two-bedroom apartments, but the square footage size of the apartments is relatively compact reflecting its downtown location and available building footprint. The one- and two-bedroom units are provided with medium sized balconies with glass and steel guardrails.
The exterior design of the building uses materials that are compatible with the neighborhood but arranged in a way that is also contemporary. Exterior materials include blond brick, composite cement panels, and large glass openings. Schemmer worked diligently with the city planners to get quick approval of the City’s extremely thorough Site Plan and Urban Design Review requirements. The design of the building went through the MidAmerican Commercial New Construction program to help identify energy saving strategies related to the envelope, electrical, and mechanical systems.