We look for opportunities to use metal in its simplest configuration. The beauty is found in the utility of its forms with simple requirements for weathering and exposure. Our insertion on an urban rooftop uses metal as building structure, sculpture and boundary. With a simple and unadorned collection of metal components we create space, add layers and provide focus. All with a material that can withstand the winds of tall building canyons, while needing very little maintenance. Metal effortlessly is a vertical element, then a horizontal element. The collection of prefabricated elements are minimally detailed, allowing users to appreciate the forms and rhythms of frame, fluted decking and welded wire panels. While rigid as structure and rhythm, metal is malleable in form and purpose. The structural frame begins as building, then transforms to trellis like no other material would allow. The material is used simply highlighting characteristics that are uniquely metal. Location: Des Moines, Iowa Program: Housing, Urban Space Client: Newbury Living Photo Credits: Timothy Hursley
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On November 27, 1893, The New Graham hosted its opening night in Washington, Iowa. The theatre replaced the original 1886 Graham Opera House that was destroyed in a fire on November 1892. Actress Clara Morris was listed on the playbill for her performance in “Odette” and performed to a sold out audience. Today, State Theatre—the name adopted in 1931—holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest continuously operating cinema theatre, having been in continuous operation since May 14, 1897. The first moving picture was shown on a cinematrographe that was made in Paris, France, and show tickets sold for 15, 25 and 35 cents each. While the theatre’s doors remained open throughout the years, time and a fire had damaged the community icon, and with the aid of historic tax credits and grants transferred through the city’s downtown revitalization group, State Theatre was restored back to its 1940’s look. Planning for exterior renovations of the 6,710 square foot building began in January 2011. Removal of the blonde storefront level brick added in the 1970s revealed the original arcade storefront. Special attention was paid to matching the original color, texture and color range of brick and mortar during masonry restoration. Other […]
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Located at the water’s edge, the Terry Trueblood Lodge provides a scenic indoor space for the community to hold large gatherings and business functions. The building consists of a large, dividable multi-purpose room, lobby area, kitchen, storage and restroom facilities which will be available to the general public at the park. The material palette for the lodge is borrowed from the existing structures in the park with exception to the copper siding. The copper siding is used to highlight important features such as the entry and the large scale fireplace. The building is composed of a low entry area intersecting with a simple exposed beam structure, relating back to the form of the existing marina. This repetitive structure continues past the building, creating a shaded outdoor gathering space overlooking the lake. Location: Iowa City, IA Program: Storage/Concessions Area: 5,867 SF Client: City of Iowa City Photo Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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Nestled on a hill overlooking a small lake, Wildwood Hills Ranch greets kids with a familiarity that is Iowan. Two shed forms come together—reminiscent of a collection of agrarian farm buildings so common to this area of quiet century farms—which remain checked by non-tillable interludes. The program is simple: space to house and feed campers. The challenge is to connect the campers to the beauty of the place, the serenity of the rural landscape and always consider the beneficial connectivity of good social behavior and the potential dangers of poor behavior. Materiality is kept simple, both in keeping with the existing camp vernacular and to meet the budget needs of a pro-bono project, where donated material and manpower is highly valued and necessary. Of utmost importance was the functionality of the design for camper care. The first floor purposely does not connect with the first floor inside the building in an effort to keep campers together and increase camper visibility. It allows staff to focus more on their raison d’etre: to transform lives and strengthen communities. Location: St. Charles, IA Program: Camp Lodge Area: 9,370 SF Client: Venter Spooner Photo Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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The marina at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area is a small facility consisting of storage for small water craft rental, restrooms, and a concession area. The building is organized with service and concession spaces along the lower roof, allowing the main, rental space to make use of the high ceiling heights and clerestory windows to the north. On either end of the rental area, the walls open out to the surrounding park, displaying the rental equipment and allowing the building to ventilate. The wood and stone materials of the building were selected to compliment the natural setting. The simple, repetitive, exposed structure informed the final form of the building as well as the desire for natural lighting, ventilation and the programmatic function of the site. Location: Iowa City, IA Program: Storage/Concessions Area: 1,210 SF Client: City of Iowa City Photo Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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"Uniquely Urbandale" This project serves a need for both a recreational building and a storm shelter for the City of Urbandale. It provides a large meeting area, kitchen, storage, restrooms and an office at the Walker Johnston Park. It complies with FEMA standards as a protective facility against tornadoes and is designed to resist the highest destructive winds. Upon approach, steel columns create a rhythm that then support a covered entry and align with the structure of the building. The landscaped area adjacent to the entry helps to frame the path to the building while also creating a contrast to the strong, clean lines of the simple building. The building, made of precast concrete panels, steel, and wood siding, has a low, rectangular silhouette to enable it to flow with the surrounding landscape. Location: Urbandale, IA Program: Recreation/Safety Shelter Area: 5,580 SF Client: City of Urbandale Photo Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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The concession building serves as an entrance point to the 15 soccer fields located within the Altoona Soccer Complex. It is a reflection of community pride. The program includes concessions, referee changing room, restrooms, and covered shelter. A single white wall cuts through the canted buildings, implying a separation of purpose between the two buildings as well as a line of direction to the point of interest: the championship field. While the buildings remain as two separate structures, the configuration allows an integrated gathering space created by the shared efforts of the two buildings as they open towards the spectators and players as an offering of shelter. Materials chosen were a response to the client’s concern for a building which is low maintenance and resistant to abuse. Location: Altoona, IAProgram: Civic / RecreationArea: 5,000 SFClient: City of AltoonaPhoto Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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“Cultivating opportunities for vibrant neighborhoods and communities.” Crestview Apartments is a project that encompasses appreciation and transformation. It reinstated a community fixture that had lost viability with contemporary elderly apartment seekers. The existing dormitory style units were combined into 55 larger units, each with a kitchen. The cafeteria and congregate areas were converted into comfortable community spaces for the residents. Also included is an exercise area, library, sitting area with fireplace, and several lounge areas. The final interiors were designed to complement the original 1960’s lines of the architecture as well as provide a comfortable and colorful living space suitable for the anticipated demographic. Location: West Des Moines, IA Program: Senior Living Area: 70,300 SF Renovations Client: Community Housing Initiatives Photo Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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"The mission of Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation is to encourage, educate, challenge, comfort, support, and nurture persons as they become disciples of Christ." Like its congregation, the existing structure is one of several levels and layers. The resulting addition connects these levels and layers, both in the religious and physical senses. The north façade provides large expanses of glazing, which allows patrons a look outside and passersby a glimpse inside. In contrast, the south façade completes the addition by creating an enclosed courtyard that provides a private area for reflection. Its copper cladding embodies the spirit of the congregation with its change in architectural mannerisms. It departs from, as much as it pays homage to, the historic language of the existing structure. Location: Ames, IA Program: Religious Area: 8,319 SF Addition Client: Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation Photo Credits: Cameron Campbell, Integrated Studio
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The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum stands as an architectural platform to honor and depict the military experience of Iowa citizens in all wars, homeland defense and Iowa service. Programmatically, there was a need for an enhanced structure to accommodate the existing museum’s growing collection of rare military archives and artifacts, including two aircraft and a submarine periscope. The challenge of the project was to make architecture that would be timeless throughout the decades on a limited budget. The solution to this design challenge is an architectural addition onto the existing muted building. This vast shaped structure made of steel and glass projects from the old building with a transparent knuckle that invites through light and sight. With its soaring, mono-slope roof, it challenges the role of “container” and becomes part of the action. The new extension gives a fundamental re-orientation to the existing building, opening up the view to the historical center of Camp Dodge to welcome visitors at a civic scale. Location: Camp Dodge - Johnston, IA Program: Museum Area: 10,262 SF Renovation, 17,852 SF Addition Client: Iowa Army National Guard Photo Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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