Simple and Refi ned The Iowa Prison Industries Outlet Building
demonstrates the quiet refi nement of metal buildings By Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director
Metal buildings, such as the Iowa Prison In- dustries Outlet Building, often don’t get much recognition in design award programs. They tend not to have the fl ash and glamour of the more self-conscious buildings that are entered. But the Metal Architecture Design Award judges were thrilled to recognize the Des Moines, Iowa, building for its simple refi nement, thoughtful solutions to lighting and excellent use of the site. “A simple, elegant solution,” says Mark DeWalt. “The building shows what can be achieved with standard metal compo- nents and some design talent.”
When Brent Schipper, AIA, LEED AP, prin-
cipal of ASK Studio, Des Moines, took on the project, he not only needed to bring the design talent, but also a pace of design and construc- tion that was astounding. From fi rst design meeting to the end of construction, the entire project took a mere six months. Under that time constraint and with a
$700,000 construction budget, a metal building became an excellent solution. “One of the fun things,” says Schipper, “was showing the owner what more a metal building could be.” Star Build- ing Systems, Oklahoma City, supplied the build- ing, roof and wall panels. The building is a wholesale outlet for products
made in the Iowa Prison system, such as desks and tables that are sold to school systems and non-