Iowa Architectural Foundation

10/13/2026

Iconic architecture. Brunch. Sliders. Slushies. Sounds like a great Saturday! 🏛️

Join the Iowa Architectural Foundation for Eat|Drink|Architecture: Drake Edition. Explore the architecture of the Drake neighborhood and Drake University campus while enjoying food and drinks along the way. Bring a friend and make a morning of it!

📅 Saturday, October 17
🕙 Choose a 10:00 or 10:30 a.m. departure
📍 University Library Cafe
🎟️ $35 per person (includes food/drinks)

Space is limited, so grab your tickets now! 👉 https://EDADrake2026.eventbrite.com

📸 Scott Chapel, Drake University, designed by Eero Saarinen.

10/12/2026

Make plans for this Saturday!

Join us October 17 for Eat | Drink | Architecture: Drake Edition, a guided walking tour exploring the architecture and stories of the Drake neighborhood and Drake University campus, with food and drinks along the way.

Bring a friend and enjoy a Saturday morning that's a little different!

📅 Saturday, October 17
🕙 Choose a 10:00 or 10:30 a.m. departure
🎟️ $35 per person

Spots are still available, but don't wait until the last minute!

Get your tickets: https://EDADrake2026.eventbrite.com

10/08/2026

Architecture, food, drinks, and good company. 🥂

See what an Eat | Drink | Architecture tour is all about, and join us for our Drake Edition on October 17!

We’ll explore the Drake neighborhood and Drake University campus on a 2½-hour guided walking tour, with food and drinks along the way.

Bring a friend and make a morning of it!

📅 Saturday, October 17
🕙 10:00 or 10:30 a.m. departure
🎟️ $35
👟 14 spots remain

🎥 Scenes from a previous Eat | Drink | Architecture tour.

Reserve your spot: https://edadrake2026.eventbrite.com/

10/02/2026

TOMORROW! 🏙️ The final Architecture on the Move tour of the season!

There’s still time to join us for an evening exploring the architecture and stories of downtown Des Moines.

Choose your route:

WESTERN GATEWAY — Explore distinctive modern architecture and the planning behind Western Gateway Park.

STANDARD WEST — Discover historic landmarks, iconic skyscrapers, and newer downtown developments.

📅 Friday, October 2
📍 Hotel Fort Des Moines, 1000 Walnut St.
🕟 Check-in at 4:30 PM
🚶 Tours depart promptly at 5:00 PM

Don't miss your last chance to experience Architecture on the Move this season!

🎟️ Reserve your spot: https://AOMOct2026.eventbrite.com

09/30/2026

A LOOK BACK AT ARCHITECTURE ON THE MOVE

Last month, we had the special opportunity to explore the Wellabe building (formerly American Republic) as part of Architecture on the Move. Our group got an inside look with special access to spaces that aren't typically open to the public.

Thank you to volunteers from BNIM, and to Wellabe for welcoming us and helping make this memorable tour possible!

And there's still one more Architecture on the Move tour this season!

Join us this Friday, October 2, for the finale of Architecture on the Move. This special edition takes us to the west side of downtown Des Moines, with two route options:

WESTERN GATEWAY — Explore the architecture and planning of Western Gateway Park, including the Krause Gateway Center, Meredith Corp., Nationwide and the Temple Performing Arts.

STANDARD WEST — Discover stately historic buildings alongside significant skyscrapers and newer developments, including the Clemens Building, Hotel Fort Des Moines, EMC Highrise, Nationwide and the Des Moines Central Library.

📅 Friday, October 2
📍 Hotel Fort Des Moines, 1000 Walnut St.
🕟 Check-in: 4:30 PM
🚶 Tours depart promptly at 5:00 PM

This is your last chance to join Architecture on the Move this season!

🎟️ Reserve your spot: AOMOct2026.eventbrite.com

09/28/2026

LAST CHANCE THIS SEASON!

Don’t miss the grand finale of Architecture on the Move on Friday, October 2!

Explore the west side of downtown Des Moines on foot with your choice of two architectural walking tours:

WESTERN GATEWAY — bold modern architecture and thoughtful urban planning

STANDARD WEST — stately historic buildings alongside striking new developments

📍 Hotel Fort Des Moines
🕟 Check-in at 4:30 PM
🚶 Tours depart at 5:00 PM

Experience Des Moines from the sidewalk up—architecture, history, and stories you might otherwise walk right past.

Reserve your spot for the final tour of the season!

Guided architectural walking tours of downtown Des Moines, presented by the Iowa Architectural Foundation

09/11/2026

See the University of Iowa campus through an architect’s eyes.

Join Iowa City architect Mark Seabold, AIA, LEED AP, on September 26 for a guided walking tour exploring some of the University of Iowa’s most significant modern and historic buildings.

From Hancher Auditorium and the Visual Arts Building to Frank Gehry’s Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories, Voxman Music Building, the Stanley Museum of Art and more, we’ll explore the architecture and evolution of the campus through an architect’s perspective.

📅 Saturday, September 26
🕘 9:00–11:30 AM
🎟️ $35, including snack refreshments
📍 Iowa City

Space is limited. Advance registration required.

Reserve your spot: https://UofIowaTour2026.eventbrite.com

09/10/2026

🍂 Our Fall Newsletter is here!

Catch up on what’s happening at the Iowa Architectural Foundation, including recent highlights and what’s coming up this fall.

Join us at one of these upcoming events:

📍 Architecture on the Move — Sept. 11
Explore a special North Route featuring access to the interior of the former American Republic Insurance building.

🏛️ University of Iowa Architecture Tour — Sept. 26
Join us for an expert-led tour of notable University of Iowa architecture, including behind-the-scenes access.

🍽️ Eat|Drink|Architecture: Drake Edition — Oct. 17
Explore architecture in the Drake neighborhood, pub-crawl style.

Read the Fall Newsletter and get the details on these events and more:

The Iowa Architectural Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2026 Community Enhancement Awards. This year’s honorees are Dave Morgan – SingleSpeed Brewing Co. and Vera French Community Mental Health Center, recipients of the Community Enhancement through Architecture and Des...

09/09/2026

See inside one of Des Moines’ architectural treasures!

This Friday, September 11, the Iowa Architectural Foundation is offering a special North Route edition of Architecture on the Move, featuring exclusive access to the American Republic (now Wellabe) building.

Designed by renowned architect Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the building is a remarkable example of mid-century modern architecture—and one that is rarely open to the public.

Want a preview? Watch IAF’s Architreasures film, shot inside the building in 2021, to get a glimpse of its distinctive interior and architectural details.

🎥 Watch the Architreasures film: https://youtu.be/sbzlep5-QQg?si=monSCGDypKZREQ1p

🏛️ Special North Route Edition
📅 Friday, September 11
🕠 5:30–7:00 PM
📍 Downtown Des Moines

Separate registration is required for this tour. Space is limited.

🎟️ Reserve your spot: https://AOMWellabeTour.eventbrite.com

Presented with support from Wellabe.

A Mid-Century masterpiece, this 153,000-square-foot office building...