The Hawkeye State’s 1940s-era international airport is getting a terminal facelift thanks to a $445 million, multi-year expansion project. With two projects well underway, travelers will see big changes.

Designed to provide a modern experience and a bolstered connection from Iowa to the rest of the world, the new Des …

DES MOINES, IA — The Des Moines Airport Authority, along with the Weitz | Turner joint venture team, hosted a beam signing event for community leaders and project team members to celebrate the Des Moines International Airport New Terminal closing out its structural phase, marking a milestone in the project’s …

OLATHE, KS — Children’s Mercy + Camber Mental Health held a ribbon-cutting celebrating JE Dunn’s completion of a new inpatient behavioral health hospital, expanding health care offerings in Olathe, Kansas. The new 72,700-square-foot facility is now open to patients and is providing short-term mental health treatment services for youth …

KANSAS CITY, MO — The University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) officially broke ground on its new, multi-level Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building, which will serve as the home for UMKC's School of Dentistry Clinics, School of Medicine's Simulation Center, the University's Health Equity Institute, Data Science and Analytics …

DES MOINES, IA — Des Moines University (DMU) Medicine and Health Sciences marked a significant milestone with the grand opening of its new campus. The event brought together DMU faculty, staff, students, and alums as they welcomed members of the Greater Des Moines community to explore the innovative spaces where …

IOWA CITY, IA — The University of Iowa recently celebrated the official topping out of its new Health Sciences Academic Building (HSAB). This traditional construction milestone signals the completion of the building's structural framework, bringing the university one step closer to enhancing its health sciences education infrastructure. Part of a …

DECORAH, IA — Luther College, located in Decorah, Iowa, recently held a wall-breaking ceremony to commemorate the launch of construction on the $24 million Gerdin Fieldhouse for Athletics and Wellness. More than 90 prospective student-athletes and their families joined representatives from Luther College, the Gerdin Charitable Foundation, and members of …

WAUKEE, IA — RDG Planning & Design recently joined Waukee, Iowa, community members for the grand opening of the Waukee Community School District's new natatorium. The aquatic facility, designed by RDG, is set to serve the competition and training needs of two large high schools and the local community in …

SPRINGFIELD, MO — Returning to the Missouri State University (MSU) campus for the first time since the Great Southern Bank Arena project in 2008, JE Dunn Construction Company is back on campus with two projects set to break ground in early 2025. Collaborating with Dake Wells Architecture and MSU, JE …

DES MOINES, IA — In a significant stride toward sustainability and innovation in educational design, RDG Planning & Design announces that the new West Des Moines campus of Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. This certification …

INDIANOLA, IA — Lawrence Group was recently tasked with reimagining 60-year-old Dunn Library at Simpson College into a modern hub for teacher education and academic support services.

Built in 1965, Dunn Library was nearing the end of its serviceable life. For 60 years, Austrian-American Architect Richard Neutra’s modern masterpiece …

DES MOINES, IA — Turner Construction Company and joint venture partner The Weitz Company recently celebrated the groundbreaking of a new passenger terminal at Des Moines International Airport (DSM). The ceremony was attended by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, and other state and local leaders.

The …

DES MOINES, IA — Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS), along with Drake University, celebrated the official opening of Mediacom Stadium, a new community and sports venue that will serve as the home field for DMPS middle school and high school sports and an on-campus home for the Drake Bulldogs soccer …

IOWA CITY, IA — The University of Iowa (UI) officially breaks ground on its new health sciences academic building. Once complete, the facility will contribute to student success at Iowa by providing learning space and allowing for future growth in three of the university’s most popular and top-ranked programs. The …

MARION, IA — Changes in the community paired with the need for more capacity is driving Mercy Medical Center’s need for a second off-site, hospital-based extension of Mercy’s Emergency Department. As Mercy’s long-standing partner of more than 25 years, Ryan Companies is designing and building the Marion Emergency Department, located …

DES MOINES, IA — The Des Moines Airport Authority marks a major milestone with the groundbreaking for the new $445 million terminal slated to open in late 2026. Airport Authority Board Chair Jake Christensen kicked off the celebration, welcoming over 100 guests to the groundbreaking ceremony. Guest speakers, including Des …

OMAHA, NE — Creighton University celebrated the official opening of the CL and Rachel Werner Center for Health Sciences Education. Named in honor of CL and Rachel Werner — whose lead gift to build the facility continues a long legacy of Creighton support — the building’s grand opening was attended …

WAYNE, NE — Wayne State College has officially broke ground on its athletic and recreation complex renovation and addition project. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by representatives from the college, the Wayne State Foundation, and the Nebraska State College System, as well as students, alumni, and members of the RDG …

KEARNEY, NE — The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) officially broke ground on a new facility. Designed to grow the state’s health care workforce and address the needs of patients across the state, the UNK-UNMC Rural Health Education Building will expand …

An inventive infrastructure renewal project in Kansas City, Kansas, will transform the abandoned Rock Island Railroad bridge into America's first destination landmark bridge, with an entertainment district and public spaces to support people walking or biking on nearby trails.

“It can continue to be a way to get to the …

LAWRENCE, KS — The University of Kansas (KU) unveils a new vision for their Gateway District project in the heart of Lawrence which includes major upgrades to the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and a remodel to Anderson Family Football Complex. The project is co-designed by architecture firms, HNTB and …

ALTOONA, IA — The Weitz Company recently celebrated the topping out of the New Southeast Polk 6-7 Middle School project in Altoona, Iowa. The ceremony marked a significant milestone in the construction of the educational facility.

The Weitz Iowa Commercial Project Team, joined by FRK Architects + Engineers and members …

IOWA CITY, IA — Steindler Orthopedic Clinic, one of Iowa’s largest independent orthopedic practices, officially broke ground on its new clinic and ambulatory surgery center (ASC). Joining Steindler at the groundbreaking were design and construction team members, including representatives from RDG Planning & Design and Miron Construction Co., Inc. The …

McCarthy Building Companies has taken the Kansas City healthcare market by storm, constructing numerous projects using a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method since opening an office in the community about a decade ago.

“We are doing some significant projects,” says Seth Kelso, Market Leader for McCarthy in …

IOWA CITY, IA — The University of Iowa’s new College of Pharmacy building has earned LEED Silver certification. Complete in December 2019, the building was officially dedicated in 2021 due to COVID-19.

The new 210,000-square-foot building replaced the 1960s College of Pharmacy building with research spaces and an abundance of …

KANSAS CITY, MO — The first flights recently departed from the new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport, marking the end of a five-year development, design, and construction effort and ushering in a new era of air travel in the region. The 1.1 million-square-foot, design-build project, developed by Edgemoor …

Aiming to improve the air passenger experience at the Kansas City International Airport in Missouri, the Kansas City Aviation Department has embarked on a $1.5 billion terminal construction project to replace the existing facilities.

“It will give us more space in the right areas,” says Jade Liska, Deputy Director of …

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA — OPN Architects’ Marion Fire Station Headquarters and the Linn County Dr. Percy & Lileah Harris Public Health Building were among seven projects chosen to receive Architecture Honor Awards in this year’s American Institute of Architects Central States Region (AIA CSR) Excellence in Design program.

Projects …

DAVENPORT, IA — The Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA Iowa) has recognized RDG Planning & Design with multiple 2022 ASLA Iowa Awards. These awards bring recognition to organizations and individuals who demonstrate superior skills in the practice of landscape architecture.

RDG’s recognition includes a project …

OMAHA, NE — The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute has awarded the HDR-designed Hubbard Center for Children Parking Garage with a biennial Design and Construction HONORS Award in its 2022 awards program. The project won in the Transportation category.

Only seven projects receive the HONORS Award from CRSI recognizing design …

The $325 million Riverfront Revitalization project in Omaha, Nebraska, is transforming three under-utilized parks along the Missouri River into an active destination space that will improve connectivity and navigation of the city’s core.

Achieving that, however, requires coordination of a multitude of elements on a complicated site.

“Spanning 72 acres …

PERU, NE — LEO A DALY has been selected to design upgrades that will elevate athletics and recreation programs at Peru State College. LEO A DALY is leading architectural, civil, interior, structural, and fire protection design services. Confluence is providing landscape architecture services, and Advanced Engineering Systems is providing mechanical, …

AMES, IA — Iowa State University (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine’s new Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory (VDL) is halfway to completion. The two-story, 94,000-square-foot project is set to finish construction in 2023 and will include specialized laboratory spaces with a flexible layout concept.

During a recent visit to the ISU VDL …

CAMBRIDGE, IA — Designed in collaboration with RDG Planning & Design, the Ember Youth Recovery Campus will serve as a nature-based, holistic treatment center for youths and young adults from across Iowa.

YSS recently broke ground on Ember, its new $20-million recovery campus near Cambridge, Iowa. Among attendees to …

DES MOINES, IA — The Des Moines Airport Authority has awarded HNTB a contract to provide design services for the airport’s improvement program, including a future terminal building that would replace the existing building.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to partner with the airport on designing a facility …

GRIMES, IA — The Weitz Company has broken ground for the new Grimes Public Library.

Employees from The Weitz Company, Grimes City Council Members, The Grimes Public Library, and Invision Architecture recently gathered to break ground on the site. The new library will be built on the corner of North …

OMAHA, NE — For pioneers, the Missouri River represented a new frontier — a place where the future was uncertain but, at the same time, unlimited. That same spirit of discovery and possibility is alive and well in Omaha, where two Kiewit projects are reshaping the future of this community. …

EDGERTON, KS — The Central States Region of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) recognizes RDG Planning & Design with three 2022 ASLA Awards. These awards recognize organizations and individuals who demonstrate superior skill in the practice and/or study of landscape architecture.

The three projects recognized include Big Bull …

The ever-growing labor shortage is a universal issue, affecting nearly every business sector that relies on the availability of a workforce. It’s an issue that was happening before the COVID-19 pandemic and has persisted.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are 11.3 million job openings in the U.S., …

KANSAS CITY, MO — Governor Mike Parson announces that Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta), formerly known as Facebook, Inc., will locate a nearly one million-square-foot data center in Kansas City, Missouri, investing more than $800 million and supporting up to 100 jobs. The data center, a first of its kind in …

DES MOINES, IA — Governor Reynolds announces a $100-million investment to modernize and strengthen Iowa’s air transportation system through the Iowa Commercial Aviation Infrastructure Fund.

Iowa’s eight commercial airports are eligible for funding that will support modernization and expansion projects. Ninety percent of the funds will be granted based upon …

DES MOINES, IA — Governor Kim Reynolds announces $38 million through Iowa’s Water Infrastructure Fund (WIF) to support three water quality and infrastructure projects across Iowa. The WIF grants are being awarded to three projects in western, central, and eastern Iowa and include the creation of new water system infrastructure, …

KANSAS CITY, MO — The 11th Street and 12th Street corridors in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, serve all modes of transportation while supporting the busiest bus traffic in the metro. The City of Kansas City and the Kansas City Area Transit Authority (KCATA) want to improve the streets for bus …

TOPEKA, KS — Governor Laura Kelly joined Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz to announce the addition of 25 highway modernization and expansion projects totaling $750 million to the development pipeline as part of the Kelly Administration’s bipartisan, 10-year Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). The pipeline announcement clears the way for preliminary …

TOPEKA, KS — The U.S. Department of Transportation launched the historic Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, Preservation, Protection, and Construction Program (Bridge Formula Program), made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The program, to be administered by the Federal Highway Administration, represents the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction …

WICHITA, KS — The City of Wichita was recently selected to apply for financing through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and receive a loan of up to $181.1 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The financing will support new biological nutrient removal (BNR) treatment processes …