November 2007 Summary

APA Honors for Best Practice of Marshalltown City Center Plan

Wetherell Ericsson Architects joins RDG's Des Moines Office

APA Honors for Best Practice of Marshalltown City Center Plan

OMAHA, Nebraska—A City Center Plan for Marshalltown, Iowa—a community of 26,000—won the Iowa American Planning Association's 2007 Outstanding Planning Award for Best Practice. RDG Planning & Design, the Omaha- and Des Moines-based firm that developed the plan, accepted the award with representatives of Marshalltown on October 31 at the 2007 Upper Midwest Planning Conference for the American Planning Association in Dubuque, Iowa.

“Projects are judged by their advancement to specific elements of planning, emphasizing results and demonstrating innovative and state-of-the art planning methods and practices,” explains Cory Scott. Judges, represented by members of the Minnesota Chapter of the APA, commented, “The plan was clear, thorough, effective and inspiring,”“a home run”, “this is what we want to do for our plans”, and “it is humbling to see the kind of work that others are doing.”

Letters supporting the nomination include Carole Winkleblack from the Marshalltown Public Library. She writes, “Some people believe that plans are simply wishful thinking or dreams that never come to pass, I know otherwise. The Marshalltown City Center Plan, developed by RDG Planning & Design, gives substance and directon towards a better future for our community.” “Marshalltown voters, I believe as a direct result of RDG’s careful planning and presentation efforts approved a $5 million bond referendum to build a new library in Marshalltown by over 71%.”

Gary Lozano, RDG’s project manager of the Marshalltown Project describes the process of the plan as “built on an economic and market-based approach that examines the local and regional roles of the district.” Marty Shukert adds, “And uses these as the inputs for design and policy recommendations focused on the key issues.”

RDG Planning & Design offers professional services in architecture, landscape architecture, interior and lighting design, strategic planning, urban and comprehensive planning, and graphic design. RDG and its predecessor companies have been serving clients since 1965. The firm currently has active projects in more than 25 states.

APA is a non-profit public interest and research organization committed to urban, suburban, regional, and rural planning.

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Wetherell Ericsson Architects joins RDG's Des Moines Office

Des Moines, Iowa November 7, 2007 – RDG Planning & Design announces a merger with Wetherell Ericsson Architects P.L.C of Des Moines, Iowa. The merger brings both firms together under one roof at the 301 Grand location. “The joining of these design firms combines the strength of two very reputable, design and service oriented companies and further expands the historic preservation services offered by RDG Planning & Design,” states Al Oberlander, one of the firm’s managing principals.

Wetherell Ericsson Architects P.L.C, established in 1892, has been providing architectural and historic preservation services in Central Iowa for 115 years. The firm was founded by Frank E. Wetherell, a University of Iowa graduate, who started the firm in Oskaloosa and then moved it to Des Moines in 1905. Wetherell Ericsson is the second oldest firm in Iowa and one of only four century firms in the state. The firm’s ongoing dedication and commitment to Des Moines and the surrounding community is reflected in their numerous projects spanning a century of architecture. Some of their most celebrated work includes:
• The Herbert Hoover historic site and Presidential library in West Branch, Iowa.
• The planning and design of multiple buildings for Living History Farms.
• The Vermeer Windmill and Interpretive Center in Pella.
• The Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Des Moines.
• The original Central YMCA in downtown Des Moines.
• Terrace Hill Governors Mansion
• The firm has had a significant impact on Des Moines; including spearheading the riverfront development of the 1930’s and 1940’s including designing the decorative railings and retaining walls that parallel the river bank.

The firm is currently working on the restoration of the Woodbury County Courthouse, considered by many as one of the best examples of Prairie Style architecture in the country, and recently completed the restoration of the Clay County Courthouse in Spencer, Iowa.

Woodbury County Courthouse - Sioux City, Iowa

Vermeer Mill and Interpretive Center - Pella, Iowa

“We are very excited about the opportunities this merger presents to better serve our clients with even more diverse disciplines and expertise” states Larry Ericsson. “The one distinctive that has been possessed by our firm for ten decades has been our respect for our architectural past and our recognition of same as a worthy resource to be preserved, creatively reused, or sensitively expanded. This merger will give us the opportunity to use our refined skills, historic knowledge, and experience to serve multiple clients.”

Davis Sanders of RDG echos the excitement of the merger, “RDG is extremely pleased to be adding the experience of Wetherell Ericsson to our already significant restoration experience. The demand for restoration and rehabilitation services continues to grow and this merger helps position us to fill the needs of clients throughout the Midwest and across the country. Part of the growth in restoration is being fueled by the green/sustainable movement, which looks beyond the historic value of a building to see the value of saving all the embodied energy that was used in the materials and construction. This combination of sustainable design, which RDG is already known nationally for, and historic preservation will be a great service to our current and future clients.”

RDG’s preservation and rehabilitation clients include:
• The Iowa State Capitol
• Terrace Hill Governors Mansion
• Fort Monroe Officers Fitness Center, Fort Monroe, Virginia
• Jasper County Courthouse
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
• Polk County Courthouse
• Chamberlin building for Jack Hatch
• Morrill Hall at Iowa State University
• The transformation of the Central Library in downtown Des Moines to the home of the World Food Prize.

”Creatively influencing life for the better through purpose-driven design is the core of RDG. We believe service and design quality separates us from our competition. With the addition of the talent and professional staff at Wetherell Ericsson, we have increased our ability to make our clients even more successful,” explains Phil Hodgin.

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