Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Des Moines Building, Modernist financial building in downtown Des Moines, United States
The Home Federal Savings and Loan Association Building at 601 Grand Avenue is a three-story structure with steel frame construction and expansive glass walls. The design features a simple overall form with a stone base incorporating granite and travertine.
Completed in 1962 under architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, it was one of the first steel and glass structures built downtown. Decades later, extensive renovations between 2016 and 2017 converted the building into the headquarters of the Diocese of Des Moines.
The building represents the clean aesthetic of mid-century modern design that shaped downtown development. Its simple lines and minimal details reflect how architects of that era reimagined American business districts.
The building sits in a central downtown location and is easy to reach on foot. It now operates as a religious institution, so visitors should check in advance whether tours or public access are available.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognition that confirmed its importance to American architecture. This designation highlighted how Mies van der Rohe's work shaped the Midwest region.
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