1895
Proudfoot and Bird Established
William T. Proudfoot and George W. Bird founded Proudfoot & Bird in Des Moines, Iowa after working in Kansas together.
1897
Crocker Building
Located on the Southwest corner of 5th and Locust the Crocker Building was the first known office of the firm.
1898
Collegiate Building - Schaeffer Hall
Proudfoot and Bird won the design competition for the University of Iowa's Collegiate Building currently named Schaeffer Hall.
St Paul's Episcopal Church
Harlan, Iowa
1899
Christian Church
Panora, Iowa
1900
Dallas County Courthouse
Firm designs the Dallas County Courthouse, which is completed in 1902.
1901
Lang Hall
University of Northern Iowa
1903
Ames Carnegie Library
Ames, Iowa
Begeman Hall
University of Northern Iowa
Marston Hall
Iowa State University
1904
Iowa Building - Louisiana Purchase Expo
Proudfoot and Bird were the architects who designed the Iowa Building for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, commonly known as the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.
1905
Biology Building
University of Iowa
1906
Beardshear Hall
Iowa State University
Polk County Courthouse
The Polk County courthouse was completed in 1906. The stone masons who constructed the grotesques took some creative liberty to leave their own personal mark in history.
1908
Macbride Hall
Macbride Hall, the building of Natural Science, at the University of Iowa was completed in 1908.
1909
Curtiss Hall
Iowa State University
Jasper County Courthouse
Newton, Iowa
1910
Proudfoot Bird and Rawson
Harry Rawson joins Proudfoot and Bird to form Proudfoot Bird and Rawson around 1910. They emerge as the foremost Architectural firm in the state through the 1920's.
In 1913 the firm moves into the Hubbell Building which will house the office for over 80 years. Pictured below is the firm in 1913, the Hubbell building, and office plans.
1912
Currier Hall
University of Iowa
Lagomarcino Hall
Iowa State University
Sabin Hall
University of Northern Iowa. Originally called the Training School, Sabin hall was an educational building where young children from the community could go to school while students attending the University could do their "practice teaching" while experienced teachers supervised. In 1957 it was renamed Sabin Hall.
Teachout Building
Des Moines, Iowa
1913
Herring Motor Car Company
The original building located at 110 West 10th street Des Moines, was completed in 1912. Two stories were added on 1 year later. As the company continued to grow Proudfoot Bird and Rawson remained their architect completing yet another building in 1918.
State Gymnasium
Iowa State University
1914
Fort Dodge City Hall
Fort Dodge, Iowa
1915
Des Moines Register and Tribune Building
Des Moines, IA
Greene County Courthouse
Jefferson, Iowa
1917
Wright Hall
University of Northern Iowa
1919
Hotel Fort Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
1922
Equitable Building
Des Moines, IA
Lincoln High School
Construction of Lincoln High School completed.
Roosevelt High School
Roosevelt High School is completed in 1922.
1924
Bartlett Hall
University of Northern Iowa.
Bartlett Hall was constructed in 3 phases. The first phase was completed in 1915, phase two was completed in 1916, and the final phase, pictured below, was completed as an addition in 1924. All phases were designed by BBS (Proudfoot Bird and Rawson at the time).
1925
Parks Library
Iowa State University
1926
Campanile
University of Northern Iowa
MacKay Hall
Iowa State University
The original name was "Home Economics Building"
1928
Memorial Union
Iowa State University
Firm designed additions were completed in 1938, 1948, 1950, 1957, 1964, and 1972
Power Plant
University of Iowa
Proudfoot Rawson & Souers
The firm is renamed for the partners Proudfoot, Rawson, and Souers.
1929
Kinnick Stadium
University of Iowa
1930
Algona High School
Algona, Iowa
1931
Smouse Opportunity School
The David W Smouse Opportunity school was the only school in Iowa at the time that was designed specifically for students with disabilities. Many special considerations were given to temperature controls, acoustics, and black board angles to meet a various needs of the students.
1932
Dubuque County Courthouse
Dubuque, Iowa
Iowa Des Moines National Bank (US Bank)
Currently known as US Bank, the Art Deco building was originally designed and built for a high rise above the 4th floor. However due to decreased funds the high rise was never constructed.
1933
Brooks and Borg Join the Firm
John Brooks and Elmer Borg join the partnership, Elmer Borg being the first engineering partner. The firm is renamed Proudfoot Rawson Brooks and Borg.
Burton (Des Moines) Building
Des Moines, IA - Art Deco Style
1937
Des Moines Fire Station
Currently the Social Club and Malo restaurant. Des Moines, Iowa
1942
Firm Reduced to Three Employees
The firm reduced to John Brooks and two others during the period of WWII, 1942-1945.
1945
Firm Renamed
After WWII, the firm is renamed Brooks-Borg after John Brooks and Elmer Borg.
1948
Des Moines Art Center
Brooks-Borg collaborates with Eliel Saarinen to design the Des Moines Art Center, 1945-1948.
Harvey Ingham Sciences Hall
Drake Univerity, Des Moines, IA - Collaboration with Saarinen, Swanson, Saarinen
KSO Radio Station
Des Moines, Iowa
From Rock to Country KSO ("Keep Serving Others") broadcasted in Des Moines from 1948 - 1989. Now the building is home to KXNO.
1950
Central Reform Church
Oskaloosa, Iowa. The original building was built in 1950. Since then an addition has been added on by another firm.
Iowa Methodist Medical Center - South Wing
Des Moines, IA - Nine story addition with 109 beds, operating room, kitchen, and pharmacy.
Iowa Power and Light Company
Des Moines, IA
One of the first buildings to be lit on the exterior!
State Auto Insurance
Des Moines, Iowa
1951
Joe Borg Joins the Firm
Joe Borg, architect and structural engineer, joins the partnership.
1953
Dormitories - with Eero Saarinen
Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. Local architect on the job lead by Eero Saarinen.
1955
Central College Student Union
Pella, Iowa
1956
Council Bluffs Courthouse/Post Office
Council Bluffs, IA
Solar Aircraft Manufacturing Facility
Des Moines, IA
Solar Aircraft Manufacturing Facility and three additions built in 1951-1956.
1958
Meredith Publishing Plan
Des Moines, IA
1961
USDA National Veterinary Services Lab
Ames, Iowa
1963
Paul Skiles Joins the Firm
Paul Skiles joins the partnership in 1963. Firm is renamed Brooks Borg and Skiles in 1966.
1964
Neal Smith Federal Building
Des Moines, IA
Firm collaboration with Amos Emery, Savage & Verploeg, Wetherell Harrison & Wagner. Formerly the U.S. Federal Office Building
1968
Preferred Risk Mutual Insurance Co. (GuideOne)
West Des Moines, IA - An addition to the original building was completed in 1979
1969
CY Stephens Auditorium
Iowa State University
BBS partnered with Crites and McConnell Architects on all 4 buildings and elevated walkways in the Iowa State Center Complex (CY Stephens, James H. Hilton Coliseum, Carl H. Sheman Continuing Education building, and J.W Ficsher Theater). BBS was the primary engineering firm on the job.
1971
EMC Corporate Headquarters
Des Moines, IA
Farm Bureau North Building
West Des Moines, IA
1977
901 Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA
1982
Hilton Coliseum Addition
Iowa State University
BBS partnered with Crites and Mcconnell Architects.
1983
Williams Residence
Oskaloosa, IA
1984
Pioneer Hi-Bred Office Building
Johnston, IA
1986
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
Des Moines, IA
1990
LeBaron Hall Addition (HNSB)
Iowa State University
1996
Lakewood Chapel Restoration
Lakewood Memorial Chapel was originally constructed in 1910. In 1996 BBS was able to work to carefully restore the chapel to its former glory.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
1997
EMC Corporate Highrise
Des Moines, IA
1998
Levitt Center
University of Iowa