City of Des Moines, IA
04/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/13/2026 14:28
City Greenhouse facility recognized with architectural and environmental awards
Des Moines, Iowa - Monday, April 13, 2026 - This time of year, the City's greenhouse is full of color as over 200,000 plants are grown by the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department.
Now, the greenhouse will need to make room for some new hardware after winning two recent awards for its impact as one of the first all-electric greenhouses in the world.
"This greenhouse has already provided immense benefit to City residents and staff through its use of environmentally friendly design strategies and cutting-edge, sustainable technology," City Architect Eric Berkson said. "Together these support a modern, efficient workspace and enhance flower-growing operations that beautify our parks, trails, and streets. These awards show the impact this project is making as the city continues to progress towards its ADAPT DSM Climate Action Plan goals."The new City greenhouse, which was completed in 2024, received the award for Project Excellence in the Iowa market by the U.S. Green Building Council, and the 2026 AIA Iowa Impact Award by the American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter.
This facility is largely powered by a nearby solar array, which levels out electricity use over the course of the year. Building efficiency features, including an electric boiler for heating and air source heat pumps, reduce annual energy use by approximately 19%.
The site also featured extensive native planting in biocells and bioswales to allow the site to process and infiltrate heavy rainfalls.
Contact
Peter Zemansky
Communications Manager, City Manager's Office
(515) 210-6586
[email protected]
About the City of Des Moines
The City of Des Moines is Iowa's capital city, and our 17 departments serve more than 214,000 residents and 46 neighborhood associations. Des Moines is a leader in sustainability and provides its residents with vibrant neighborhoods, a lively downtown, and abundant leisure opportunities.
Des Moines continuously improves neighborhoods, public safety, and quality of life by offering exceptional city services and reliable infrastructure while fostering an involved and compassionate community for all who visit and live in Des Moines.
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City of Des Moines, IA published this content on April 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 13, 2026 at 20:29 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]