Iowa Association of Realtors

Iowa Association of Realtor’s membership has grown exponentially in recent years - with it their need for additional area. For 20 years their existing facility has served them well, but their ability to effectively support membership and staff has waned. To fulfill their purpose of “empowering members & associations to achieve excellence”, IAR needed infrastructure improvements. IAR engaged SHYFT Collective for strategic planning to review options of continuing their current space lease, leasing elsewhere, and buying or building new. Purchasing a new with adaptive reuse was selected, with program and plan diagrams identifying a facility match in the Bike World warehouse in West Des Moines, Iowa. To best serve member goals, the design solution needed to meet the program requirements, but more importantly overall budget restrictions to not overly stress membership dues.

The greatest project challenge was utilizing an existing facility that was smaller than the original program IAR had identified. The previous warehouse design provided an opportunity to leverage the height to create a 2nd floor mezzanine area. This allowed the existing floorplan to provide almost the entire initial program provided to us. By elevating private program elements, it afforded exterior views and direct daylight to almost all spaces. The other major challenges were providing for the proper training and educational experience, and the space required for a growing organization. Our solution maximized the 1st floor area for flexible and specific training requirements. In order to meet budget, schedule, and aesthetic goals SHYFT utilized prefab construction elements throughout.

The result is now an open, bright space with plenty of adaptable training and workspaces for staff and members. IAR’s culture and commitment to being Iowa’s trusted voice for real estate is now reflected by empowering members and associations to achieve excellence in their new facility.