Blog

On May 3, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) in Cedar Rapids will host a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off its clock tower renovation. The project will enhance the structure by adding an astronomical clock—the first in the US and one of only three in the world.

Next month, construction will wrap up on the third phase of the Johnson County Courthouse renovation. The project—broken into six phases—will reconfigure existing spaces, improve accessibility, and enhance efficiency for those who use the building daily. It will also preserve the building’s character and honor its history.

A master plan provides a bird’s eye view of your organization’s growth and development. It outlines potential facility improvements and budget requirements, helping your team plan projects intentionally and invest dollars wisely.

With enough rigor and care, high-quality architecture can be affordable. Such was the case with SIMPCO/SRTS’ new facility in Sioux City, Iowa. Completed in September 2023, the facility allows this mission-focused organization to better serve rural and urban communities in the tri-state area of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

The early stages of the architectural process are a time to make large-scale decisions related to the building’s form and structure. During this time, your design team may present different structural system options, discuss benefits and drawbacks, and make recommendations.

Next fall, the Pella Early Learning Center—officially named the Little Dutch Academy at the Viersen Early Learning Center—will open its doors to students. The 32,000-square-foot project is Pella Community School District’s first purpose-built facility for preschool students.

Everyone has an innate desire to be in and around nature—a concept known as biophilia. Unfortunately, the workspaces where we spend most of our time are often stripped of life.

On November 8th, Neumann Monson hosted a public open house to celebrate our newly renovated Iowa City studio. The event allowed visitors to meet our team and explore the renovation’s sustainable design features.

Discussions about sustainability often focus on building performance, systems, and energy consumption. While these elements are important, they tend to overshadow one of the key components of architecture: the experience of inhabiting a building.

The Living Building Challenge (LBC) is an opportunity to bring together diverse stakeholders and transform communities. Its Equity Petal seeks to foster a more just and inclusive world that enables all people to participate, prosper, and reach their potential. By setting accessible design and project team inclusion requirements, it offers a pathway for making this vision a reality.