BBS Architects Engineers

Firm History

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

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