The design of the Union at River’s Edge is based on capitalizing on the qualities of a site: it affords proximity to Des Moines’s city center and extraordinary views the Raccoon River with an urban backdrop, including Principal Park.   It is visible from the buildings of the city’s center and thousands of vehicles exiting downtown every day. The design is also guided by the principles of new urbanism. Fundamentally, the project increases the density of the city core, advancing the discernable center. It creates river edge that focuses on the building rather than parking.  It engages the street with diversity of purpose and great care to movement across the river by pedestrians and bikers with an anchoring green space.   It’s introduction to the community is a reclamation of the river’s edge. The Union at River’s Edge meets the 1,000 Friends of Iowa’s mission by promoting responsible land use in a community and utilizing smart growth principles - the use of an underutilized site which was industrial and sustainably incompatible with the river and development of the core.  The highest and best use of this site is the fundamental tack in preserving the importance of a city center and making sound […]
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