Equitable Building

604 Locust Street

Proudfoot Bird & Rawson did the project as the Equitable Life Insurance Co. of Iowa, 1923.

Voted 1 of the top 50 buildings of the 20th century in Iowa

Other projects of that time by the firm

  • Hubbell Office Building 904 Walnut 1912
  • DM Register and Leader Building 1913
  • Liberty Building 1924
  • Des Moines Building 1930.

Gothic Revival with Medieval Detailing

19 stories – tallest building in Des Moines 1923 to 1973 (319 ft) (35 ft below grade are the three two story tall boilers)

When it opened, there was a party on the rooftop and a plane flew over dropping floral wreaths to 850 guests

Lantern tower is the location of a water tank for fire protection purposes

The two-story steel tank will be removed to create an apartment (2012)

Building materials: polished granite, dark cast iron & light colored terra cotta.

Gnomes at third floor appear to be straining to hold up the building.

Remodeled in 1971 by Savage Ver Ploeg (now SVPA) – AIA IA

Ownership history:

  • 1989 – sold to Chicago Investor for $11.3 mil
  • 2005 – sold to Bob Knapp for $5 mil
  • 2007 – Joseph’s leaves for Davis Brown building after 83 years in the building
  • 2009 – Great Southern Bank buys for $3.6 mil
  • 2012 – Purchased by Foutch Bros. LLC for $460,000

It will be remodeled for $30.5 mil into commercial use and 146 apartments. Construction should be complete in 2016. The roof will be a patio for residents. The tower may be an office or apartment.

Tallest Building in Iowa:  

  • 1923-1973               Equitable Bldg. @ 319 ft
  • 1973-1974               Financial Ctr @ 345 ft                   
  • 1974-1991               Ruan Center @ 475 ft
  • 1991 to present    801 Grand @ 630 ft