Blog

Bur Oak Land Trust is an Iowa City-based nonprofit working to “advance biodiversity in Eastern Iowa by protecting resilient landscapes and connecting people to nature.” Since its founding in 1978, they have protected a total of 877 acres of land in Eastern Iowa, including 491 acres owned by the Trust and the remaining 386 acres protected through conservation easements.

On September 23, 2026, Iowa Valley’s Habitat for Humanity held a dedication ceremony celebrating the completion of a newly built home in Iowa City. The solar-powered, single-level home was designed to prioritize accessibility for the family’s youngest son, who uses a wheelchair.

Neumann Monson is proud to announce that three of our projects have been awarded with Central States Region Design Awards. Focused on work from Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, the awards recognize the “highest quality design, informed by the AIA Framework for Design Excellence, [progressing] toward a zero-carbon, healthy, just, resilient, and equitable built environment.”

We are pleased to announce Neumann Monson Architects has been recognized by the AIA Iowa Emerging Professionals Committee as a 2026 Emerging Professionals Friendly Firm. We believe it is imperative that firms guide the next generation of architecture professionals by championing newcomers in our industry and removing barriers for growth.

As a signatory and early adopter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Materials Pledge, our firm is involved in a growing movement of industry leaders committed to transforming the building materials industry.

In 2006, the 2030 Challenge from Architecture 2030 was launched to drive climate responsibility within the architecture industry.

On May 5, 2026, Neumann Monson was honored to receive an Outstanding Achievement award from United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties during their Community Celebration event. A frequent collaborator in our volunteering efforts, we proudly support United Way’s contributions to helping the communities we serve.

Neumann Monson Architects has been recognized by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Great Plains Chapter with a 2026 Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) Honorable Mention for University of Iowa Health Care North Liberty Campus.

Happy Earth Day! We’re excited to share that Neumann Monson has completed our first-ever Carbon Footprint Report. Over the past couple of months, our team has been gathering data and running calculations, and we’re ready to share what we’ve learned from our 2025 carbon footprint process.