Teachout Building

500 Locust Avenue

Built in 1914 Placed on the NRHP 1999

Architects: Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson.

General Contractor: JC Mardis Co

Restored by Herbert Lewis Kruse Blunck, 1999

Restoration traces history that reveals clues of the original office configurations by leaving visible “blueprints”.

Developer went to great lengths to restore original architectural details

Offers stunning views of the Des Moines skyline

The east side’s second skyscraper marked the end of the skyscrapers on the east side with the bigger commercial developments being built on the west side. (The first was the Capitol City Bank Building; which survived until 1981 and was located on the opposite corner).

The building was originally designed as a six-story building, but a seventh was added after work was nearly complete; which made it slightly higher than the Capitol City Bank Building.

The street level’s first tenant was the Leader Clothing Store; Iowa Trust and Savings was on the second floor; and the upper floors were meant to be a European hotel.

Iron Elevator is the centerpiece of the lobby, with salvaged glass from Chicago and Kansas City.

The stained glass window in the bar was designed and executed by renowned stained glass artist E. Motley in the early 1920’s.

• Created out of Tiffany style stained glass for the East Des Moines Club, one of Des Moines oldest men’s business and social organizations
• Motley drew on the iconic images from the Des Moines downtown including the State Capital.