DES MOINES, IA — Culminating an extensive office remodeling project, an open house celebration welcomed the local community into the new company headquarters of The Weitz Company and Orascom USA. The office remodeling project began in 2020 when Knapp Properties LC was interested in modernizing the building with a flagship tenant. Weitz has had several offices across Des Moines over the 167 years in business, most recently operating in two locations.

"The benefits of bringing the full staff of The Weitz Company, and Orascom USA, into one headquarters are immeasurable," said Mike Tousley, General Manager - Iowa. "Our organization is excited to be back downtown in this central location, and energized about the future growth this new chapter will bring to our employees, and the community of Des Moines."

The open house welcomed the clients, employees, and friends of Weitz, Knapp Properties, and JSC Properties to view the finished space, celebrate the project completion, and showcase the availability still remaining. Throughout the open house, several employees of all three companies gave tours of the newly remodeled building. Visitors had a chance to learn more about the historic mid-century-style building’s history and step onto the recently opened rooftop overlooking the Des Moines skyline. Alongside the tours, there were catered appetizers by the Des Moines Embassy Club, decorative cookies, a massive balloon arch with a selfie station, and personalized hammers for guests to take home with them to commemorate the historic move for The Weitz Company.

"Having partnered with many clients here in Des Moines on their construction projects, it was exciting to work on a building for ourselves," said Vince Ward, Business Development Director, The Weitz Company - Iowa. "It is especially rewarding to bring a beautiful, underutilized downtown building back to life and call it our home. I’m grateful to everyone who attended our open house to help us celebrate."

The project team, and the architect, Substance Architecture, updated the core and shell of the building and included new windows to bring back the original “ribbon” of windows from 1954. The core and shell project included 126,000 square feet of new elevators, complete replacement of the building’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment, new fireproofing, and a rooftop overlooking Downtown Des Moines. Alongside the core and shell, The Weitz Company included 41,000 square feet of tenant improvement pieces to their headquarters like polished concrete floors, exposed ceilings, and raw steel elements to showcase the history of the building and reflect The Weitz Company’s 167-year-old history as well.