American Republic Insurance Company Headquarters Building

The American Republic Insurance Company Headquarters Building is an eight-story office tower in downtown Des Moines with solid walls on its east and west sides. The structure rises approximately 107 feet and features a clean, modern design typical of mid-twentieth-century corporate architecture.

Construction of this building began in late 1963, designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft of the prominent firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Watson Powell Jr. commissioned the project as a new corporate headquarters for his insurance company.

Inside this office tower stands a bronze sculpture by renowned artist Arnaldo Pomodoro, which reflects the company's commitment to supporting contemporary art. The artwork creates an unexpected cultural moment within the corporate space, showing how business and creativity intersected in this era.

The building continues to function as active corporate offices and underwent renovation in 2015 to add modern mechanical systems. The exterior can be viewed from public spaces in downtown Des Moines, though access to the interior may be limited.

The outer walls of this tower taper as the building rises, a response to the decreased weight requirements at higher levels. This subtle structural refinement shows how the architect integrated function with engineering logic.