Riverfront YMCA (Demolished)

101 Locust Ave

Completed in 1959

Architects: Wetherell & Harrison

Design attributed to William “Bill” Wagner

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

Separate functions are expressed as individual volumes

Decorative brick murals done with polychromed brick are at each entry way and in the pool area.

The YMCA will move to the former Polk County Convention Center in early 2015. The Wellmark YMCA will cost $30 mill.

The Des Moines Coliseum is the former building located on this lot. Opened in 1908, it served as the main venue for large public events in Des Moines for four decades. Herbert Hoover launched his 1932 re-election campaign from the Coliseum, and several other U.S. Presidents spoke there, Drake University played basketball in the Coliseum for a number of years, and it was used for wrestling, boxing, ice skating, and circus events. It was destroyed by fire on August 13, 1949.

The Riverfront YMCA was demolished in the fall of 2015.  As of March 2016, this is an empty lot awaiting final plans for development.