Miesblock is a three-story mixed-use building in the core of downtown Des Moines, featuring ground-level restaurant space with full-height windows that engage the street and upper floors wrapped in a perforated metal veil that references the Bauhaus design language of the adjacent historic Mies van der Rohe Catholic Pastoral Center. The project balances contemporary commercial design with a thoughtful architectural response to its historic surroundings.
Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership office is a custom-designed workspace in downtown Des Moines, reimagined by Nelson and Slingshot Architecture with research-driven workplace design featuring Iowa-sourced hickory wood, local artwork, and sit-stand workstations. The space reflects the organization’s commitment to innovation and provides an environment that supports its mission of regional economic development.
Ashworth Place
Ashworth Place is a 30,000 square foot Class A office building along West Des Moines’ Jordan Creek Parkway corridor, featuring a two-story glass lobby and an architecturally striking exterior that stands out in one of the metro’s premier business districts. The building offers flexible multi-tenant floor plans suited for a wide range of professional uses.
Westfield Veterinary Hospital
Westfield Veterinary Hospital is a 3,364 square foot veterinary facility in Johnston, Iowa, featuring dedicated surgical suites, kennels, examination rooms, and administrative areas designed with separate HVAC systems for humans and animals to support a clean, disease-minimizing environment. The building was completed from the ground up in five and a half months with a design that sensitively transitions between the surrounding commercial and residential uses.
Urbandale Business Center
Urbandale Business Center is a 115,652 square foot warehouse facility in Urbandale, Iowa, featuring high-cube storage and a pressured sprinkler system designed to support large-scale distribution and logistics operations. The development serves as a significant commercial and industrial hub in the Urbandale market.
Plumb Supply Company
Plumb Supply Company is a 33,600 square foot precast concrete warehouse expansion in Des Moines, built in phases over five months to allow ongoing operations throughout construction. The facility features dock equipment, in-floor radiant heating, and a hardened concrete slab suited for heavy-duty warehouse use.
Norwalk Family Dentistry
Norwalk Family Dentistry is a 9,800 square foot multi-tenant medical facility in Norwalk, Iowa, featuring a 6,800 square foot nine-chair dental clinic with state-of-the-art mechanical systems and extensive underground rough-in for dental equipment. The design incorporates custom millwork—including a floating wood ceiling and reception desk—along with radius walls and decorative reveals that set the space apart from typical clinical environments.
North Shore I
North Shore I is a 90,000 square foot multi-tenant office facility in Urbandale, Iowa, completed by Nelson in nine months despite a sloping lot, storm water detention challenges, and limited utility availability. The building features a data center, indirect lighting, and raised computer flooring designed to meet the specialized technical needs of its commercial tenants.
Nelson Construction & Development Offices
The Nelson Construction & Development offices occupy the second floor of the historic Fleming Building in downtown Des Moines, featuring massive windows, an open floor plan, and 18-foot ceilings that flood the space with natural light and support a collaborative work environment. The downtown location places the team at the center of the city’s entrepreneurial community and reflects Nelson’s commitment to leading by example through its own historic renovation work.
Iowa Medical Society
The Iowa Medical Society is a 22,000 square foot tenant improvement in West Des Moines, completed by Nelson in multiple phases to allow existing tenants to remain operational throughout construction. The renovated space meets the high standards of its medical personnel, and the successful phased delivery led to the client returning for a subsequent fourth phase.