Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens

909 Robert D. Ray Drive

October 29, 1977: Groundbreaking for the conservatory designed by Architects Associated, later known as Smith-Voorhees-Jensen Associates, with Ray Hueholt as project architect.

The DMBC is a form of geodesic dome design, with a diameter of 150 feet and a height of 75 feet. It houses a permanent collection of over 1,500 tropical and subtropical species and cultivars.

2004: Declining revenues and increasing expenses lead the City to consider closing the facility, at which point the Des Moines Water Works offers to assume management.

2008:  The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, to assume management of the Botanical Center.

June 2012: The master plan developed by Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architecture is approved by the Des Moines City Council.

March 2013: Robert D. Ray Drive closed north of the Botanical Garden’s parking lot to make way for new gardens.

July-September 2013: The facility closed to the public for Phase I updates to the conservatory, lobby, meeting rooms and office suite designed by Simonson Architects costing $11.6 M

Fall 2013: Planting in new landscape areas begins along with the kickoff of fundraising for the $6.2 million Phase II of the Master Plan.

Spring-late Summer 2014: Planting in new landscape areas continues as Phase I of the Master Plan nears completion.

Spring-Summer 2014: Phase II construction begins.