BBS Architects Engineers

Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company

Home Office Building with Expansion
Home Office Building with Expansion
Home Office Building with Expansion

Project Data: 
Original–180,000 SF
Expansion–236,000 SF 

Client Need:
When Iowa Farm Bureau and its affiliated companies outgrew their downtown office building, a decision was made to move to a setting more connected to nature. This was motivated by the need for long-term growth along with the natural identity and affinity of the Farm Bureau with the land. A 55-acre, gently rolling site was selected west of the metropolitan area with easy access to the City and to the interstate system. 

BBS Approach:
This is a building literally “of the earth” as the major exterior and interior material is a rich brown brick with teak glass settings.

In 1987, it was determined that an addition should be designed to add 236,000 SF to the facility, doubling the size of the original building.

Project Results:

  • Space on each floor is divided into two 20,000 square foot office spaces with a central circulation and service “spine” connecting the elements. 
  • Openings between floors with natural daylight flooding from “monitors” above give an open and spacious feeling. 
  • The cafeteria on the first floor seats 265 persons and is easily converted to an auditorium seating 535.
  • Glass walls on three sides offer a sweeping view of the rolling Iowa countryside.
  • The 1987 addition consists of three basic elements:
  1. East Wing - Essentially a replica of the original building; connected by the Atrium to that building. 
  2. Atrium - The “main street” for the complex, designed to extend to the south to allow the addition of future office wings.  The Atrium is an open, two-story space with a skylit roof supported by a formal arrangement of concrete columns.  A new entrance structure is located at the north end of the Atrium. 
  3. West Wing-  Connects directly to the Cafeteria Wing of the original building expanding that facility and adding a Wellness Center, Day Care Facility, and  Conference Center. 
  • Additional surface parking was developed to support the expanded complex.
Beardshear Hall Remodeling
Reid “E” Research Facility
Coover Hall Infrastructure Study
Sabin Hall Renovation – LEED Gold
Office Renovation
ABC - Office Build-Out
Wyoming Farm Bureau Center
Geoffroy Residence Hall
Hub Tower Office Tenant Improvement
Executive Suites Renovation
Ames Laboratory Metal Development and Wilhelm Hall Electrical Upgrades
Hub Tower Conference Center
Minnesota Farm Bureau Center
Covered Walkway
Iowa Events Center
Hub Tower Elevator Modernization
Iowa City Federal Building - VHA Renovations
Corporate Highrise
Federal Building Study and Arc Flash Assessment
Ames Laboratory TASF and Spedding Hall Arc Flash Study
Camp Dodge Chapel Addition and Renovation
New Office
LeBaron Hall Replacement Study
Ames Laboratory Metal Development and Wilhelm Hall Electrical Study
MacKay Hall Auditorium Renovation
Camp Dodge Pool Campus Improvements
Levitt Center for University Advancement
ETRC Hoover Hall
Terminal
Science Center - New Facility
Dodge House Renovations
Lance and Ellie's Sandwich Shop
Union Drive Community Center Renovations
Kemin Food Sciences Lab Renovation
Utah Farm Bureau Center
Corporate Headquarters Renovation
Food Sciences Building - Room 2379 Renovation
VRAC C6 and Office Suite
Parking Garage
Memorial Union Food Court
219 Eighth Street
IADA Office Renovation
Hospital Emergency Room Renovation & Expansion
BBS at 219 8th Street
Richard Bolling Federal Building Study and Arc Flash Assesment
Catholic Pastoral Center Rehabilitation
College of Human Sciences
Camp Dodge Urban Assault Course
Biological Sciences Facility
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Chemistry Building Addition & Renovation
Arizona Farm Bureau Center
ETRC Howe Hall
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