Slingshot Architecture

We’re honored to continue our partnership with Ellipsis to provide safe, supportive housing for young adults who have experienced trauma. As they transition into adulthood, they need and deserve safe spaces that feel like their own. Ellipsis’ Meredith location is an apartment-like building that offers private units for residents, with shared amenities and 24/7 support from staff. Slingshot’s goal was to create a sense of refuge utilizing tranquil and biophilic-like materials that help aid in the reduction of stress, for both youth and staff. This project brings people together, prioritizing individual and community healing and growth. See the details: https://buff.ly/4cMLaoS #SlingshotArchitecture #Slingers #Slingshot #IowaArchitecture #Architecture #AIAIowa #InteriorDesign #OnTheBoards

We're excited to announce that Jessica has transitioned from her role as an intern to a full-time Architect Associate at Slingshot! Jessica recently graduated from Iowa State University, earning a Bachelor's degree in Architecture with a Minor in Sustainability. Her passion for sustainable design and commitment to excellence have already made a positive impact on our projects. During her internship, Jessica demonstrated a strong ability to collaborate and consistently showed eagerness to learn and contribute, actively participating in design decisions and building meaningful relationships across the firm. Join us in congratulating Jessica on this well-deserved advancement! We look forward to her continued growth and contributions to delivering exceptional design solutions.

Now that we’re moved into our new space in Des Moines’ Capital Square, we’re looking toward the next phase of the evolution of the building’s beautiful but underutilized public atrium. At Slingshot, we learn from experiencing place in person, and we seek impact beyond the property lines of any project, including our own offices. First, we must understand the needs and dreams of the community. To that end, we conducted a survey of people who interact with the property, including tenant businesses and office workers. The results provide valuable insights into how current users view the eight-story atrium — and begin to hone the vision for what it could be, not only for Capital Square office workers but for the surrounding downtown community. And the community responded. They not only shared details on how they work, but also ideas for what they want. Think coffee shop, pop-up business, collaboration space, and quiet spots to relax and recharge. This informs our next steps for an optimistic activation of the atrium space. Stay tuned for updates! #SlingshotArchitecture #Slingers #Slingshot #IowaArchitecture #Architecture #AIAIowa #InteriorDesign #AdaptiveReuse #BuildingReuse #BuildingTransition #OfficeMove #DSMUSA

Des Moines’ Young Professionals Connection through Greater Des Moines Partnership connects emerging leaders to each other and to the community. We were thrilled to welcome 75 YPC members to Slingshot’s headquarters for the Sips, Samples, and Sights Architectural Walking Tour with Iowa Architectural Foundation last night. The tour highlighted the architecture and incredible public art that enriches Des Moines’ East Village. We’re proud to be part of this community of experts, advocates, and professionals. Check out how YPC helps the community and impacts change: https://buff.ly/4g1Ksac #SlingshotArchitecture #Slingers #Slingshot #IowaArchitecture #Architecture #AIAIowa #InteriorDesign #ypcdsm

We’re proud to support CREW Iowa and its commitment to advance women working in the commercial real estate industry. As a CREW Committee member, Slingshot Operations Director Emily S. is passionate about mentorship and leadership development for young women entering the field and related realms of architecture and design. That’s why the UCREW Collegiate Conference has a special place in her heart. As part of the conference, attendees will tour a Slingshot project, the historic preservation and transformation of a former Howard Johnson motor lodge in the heart of Des Moines. The new use is a hotel that pays homage to its previous incarnation, while providing a modern experience for guests. UCREW conference attendees will see the space and learn about the process. See the details: https://lnkd.in/g2RaPT5Y #SlingshotArchitecture #Slingers #Slingshot #IowaArchitecture #Architecture #AIAIowa #InteriorDesign

A large, welcoming front patio serves as an invitation to discover the magic that’s happening at the WesleyLife campus in Des Moines’ Drake neighborhood. Slingshot partnered with WesleyLife to repurpose a former Drake University academic building into a multi-function space that includes a new restaurant, a hub for intergenerational interaction, and the home of WesleyLife’s Meals on Wheels program, which can provide 3,000 healthy meals to seniors and military veterans every day. The basement of the building holds a hydroponic farm that produces 20,000 pounds of fresh produce every year. The restaurant, Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen, was recently opened by renowned Des Moines chef Lynn Pritchard. It invites older adults, college students, Drake neighborhood residents, and foodies to experience its open-concept kitchen and expansive patio just steps away from the Drake University campus. Together, these enterprises promote wellness, combat isolation in older adults, and spark meaningful connection among diverse residents of this community. Learn more: https://buff.ly/3vuLsij #SlingshotArchitecture #Slingers #Slingshot #IowaArchitecture #Architecture #AIAIowa #InteriorDesign #AdaptiveReuse #Repurpose #BuildingReuse #BuildingTransition

The Good Butcher is a new concept in Iowa for fresh and cured meats. Its goal is to connect customers with the farmers and companies that show respect for the process, the people, and the animals, and provide the highest quality meats. To reflect this ethos, our design solution reflects the craft experience: It showcases the hidden craft of butchering to the customers looking for a premium product, while evoking the familiar comfort of a small-town meat locker. A clean, industrial look highlights the transparency of The Good Butcher’s philosophy from farmer to butcher to customer. The Good Butcher is slated to open in fall 2024 in Des Moines. Read on: https://buff.ly/4d68eAa #SlingshotArchitecture #Slingers #Slingshot #IowaArchitecture #Architecture #AIAIowa #InteriorDesign #OnTheBoards

More than 1 million square feet — that’s 17 percent — of Des Moines’ downtown office space was vacant in 2023. It’s time to get creative. It’s time to think differently. At Slingshot, we are obsessed with optimistic urbanism: How can we adapt existing urban spaces to meet today’s challenges and opportunities? That thinking is at the heart of our office move. As we transition into our temporary home in Capital Square, we aim to leave that space better than we found it. “A lot of people are rethinking their relationship to the office and how they work in an office space, especially after the COVID pandemic. For Slingshot, this move fits nicely into our evolution, as we keep exploring and adapting, rather than staying in a prescribed box,” says Slingshot Interior Designer Taylor Hays. Avery Day, Slingshot Interior Design Intern, conducted case studies and research on how to transform the eight-story atrium to engage not just office workers, but the entire downtown community. Think coffee shop, micro-retail, small business popups — a space flexible enough to accommodate large formal events and farmers markets, but also the daily amenities that workers crave. “Our research is showing that people don’t want the same office environment they used to have. They want different amenities,” Avery says. “When companies invest in those things for their employees, they stay longer and their overall mental health and wellbeing is better. They are more successful in their spaces and in their communities.” #SlingshotArchitecture #Slingers #Slingshot #IowaArchitecture #Architecture #AIAIowa #InteriorDesign #AdaptiveReuse #Urbanism #Repurpose #BuildingReuse #BuildingTransition

Projects that Bring People Together: It’s what we do. Dream City needed a home that could reflect its bold mission: to empower the community through advocacy, art, community development, shared connections, and wellness. In April, Dream City received an Inclusive Economic Development grant from the City of Iowa City to expand its operations and move into a new space. Slingshot is proud to partner to make this a reality. The building's transition has already begun on the interior of the former auto parts store, to build it's new life as a regional hub for supporting and promoting underrepresented entrepreneurs, artists, youth, and leaders. We’re relentlessly optimistic about what our community can do together. Discover more: https://buff.ly/4fq5jni #SlingshotArchitecture #Slingers #Slingshot #IowaArchitecture #Architecture #AIAIowa #InteriorDesign #OnTheBoards

Ferris wheels and food on a stick. It’s Iowa State Fair time, and our Interiors Team put together an August palette that’s full of retro nostalgia. Perfect for hot days and Midway-lit nights. #SlingshotArchitecture #Slingers #Slingshot #IowaArchitecture #Architecture #AIAIowa #InteriorDesign #IowaDesigner #IowaStateFair #FairFever # iida_gp