Des Moines University of Medicine and Health Sciences Campus
West Des Moines, Iowa
Merit Award
Sent by: RDG Planning and Design
Owner: University of Des Moines
Principal/Civil Design Company: RDG Planning and Design
General contractor: Turner Construction
Structural Engineer: KPFF
MEP Engineer: IMAGE
Landscape architect: RDG Planning and Design
Sustainability: STOCK
This center of innovation and sustainability in health education is located on 88 hectares. Featuring state-of-the-art facilities and technology, the four-building LEED Silver medical campus was built in just three years. Pre-construction and design began in 2019, and as the project progressed, the team encountered significant obstacles such as cost escalation, supply chain disruptions and unpredictable market conditions. Achieving the design and scope of the project while respecting the budget constraints required extensive collaboration from the entire team. The team continuously monitored the availability of materials and equipment, which informed strategic project decisions. Value engineering solutions also helped align project scope with budget limits, and the release of multiple sets of interim drawings and bid packages helped secure long-term essential materials and stabilize pricing.
Energy efficiency was one of the main objectives of the project. Some of the features built into the campus include a ground-coupled heat pump system that manages heating and cooling loads simultaneously, regenerative elevators that can convert frictional heat generated during braking into electricity, and an automatic ventilation system that adjusts according to employment. Meanwhile, the campus support building features a central floor system that will help optimize space, reduce equipment requirements, improve resilience, consolidate systems and minimize both energy consumption and operating costs. capital
