Slingshot Architecture is excited to be working with Todd Millang on his next endeavor at 208 Court Avenue (formerly known as Sbrocco). Phase 1 of this project involves facade improvement and designing a new ground floor restaurant on Court Avenue. The restaurant theme is still a work in progress but you can expect to get good wine, craft cocktails, local beers, and great food. The new expanded storefront design will allow more natural light into the restaurant and the outdoor seating area will stretch east along Court Avenue. The design incorporates an eye catching solution for signage on a large vertical plane that angles west toward greater Court Avenue. Originally constructed in the 1860’s we are excited to be a part of the rehabilitation of this historic building that has played a key role in the fabric of downtown Des Moines for well over a century.
Learn more about this project in an article by the Des Moines Register
UPDATE:
Des Moines Register readers took to the polls to help name the new restaurant. RōCA – short for restaurant on Court Avenue – was the big winner. Read more here
Slingshot Architecture has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects Iowa Chapter as a recipient of the 2013 Craft Award. The award recognizes excellence in inventiveness + execution + incorporation of craft into our built environment. Special thanks to RCS Millwork & Ball Team LLC. for their expert involvement in the project making this award possible. See what the jurors had to say in the AIA award brochure link below.
Exile Brewery – Craft Award Pages
For more on this project check it out on the web
Since 2007 the Des Moines Social Club has been providing a much needed and unique service to the greater Des Moines area. To steal a couple of quotes from their mission/vision statement they want to “use the arts as a catalyst to create unprecedented community engagement and build art institutions that foster social change and revitalize cities.”
Their 7‘x10’ office space inside the Kirkwood Hotel is not adequate enough to accomplish those ambitious goals. So, for the past year Slingshot has been working with the DMSC building committee (Zach Mannheimer, Justin Lossner, Jay Jagim, Matt McIver, Chad Rasmussen, and Jake Christensen) to design the conversion of the historic downtown fire station headquarters and shop building into their new home. It has been challenging, but a lot of fun and we are convinced Zach Mannheimer was born with the gift of having a “reality distortion field” surround him (which he uses only for good).
We feel the final product is the complex combination of flexibility, art integration, practicality, energy efficiency, historical appreciation, and never saying no (to theater related design changes). We dropped the drawings off at the city for permit on June 10th and we are excited to begin the construction phase with Beal | Derkenne Construction.
Please enjoy the images that we have created or acquired since the start of this project.
Firehouse Images
Enjoyed participating in the Des Moines Social Club Annual Dinner. Slingshot Architecture is very honored and excited to be working with Zach and his team to help bring their awesome vision to downtown Des Moines.
