Civic Center

221 Walnut Street

Completed: 1979

Charles Herbert & Assoc., architects

Style: Brutalism – True etymology origins of the term: béton brut which is what Le Corbusier called the innovative and expressive “raw concrete” of his post war buildings. Brutalism was synonymous with progress and social reform of the day. Béton brut (French pronunciation: [bet

bRy], raw concrete) is architectural concrete left unfinished or roughly-finished after pouring and left exposed visually. The imprint of the wood or plywood form work used for pouring is usually present on the final surface.

Won the Award of Excellence in 1979 given by the American Institute of Architects, CSR.

Voted 1 of the top 50 buildings of the 20th century in Iowa and best building of the decade

Cost $2.95 million to build ($9.5 million in 2012 $’s); total of 110,100 square feet.

The Main Hall features a 76-foot wide by 28-foot high proscenium stage, which is the focal point for a fan-shaped continental seating area that accommodates an audience of 2,735.

The Stoner Studio Theater, located on the ground level, seats as many as 200 people.

Street grid shifts several degrees at Nollen Plaza site, design of the Plaza and auditorium sits on that shift

The exterior is pre-cast concrete.

The enclosure of the large and diversely shaped volumes necessitated long, clear span roof trusses and innovative integration of the heating ventilation and air conditioning systems.

In 1994 HLKB added a new vertical access facility to the lobby to structurally and visually support a new skywalk bridge.