Weathering a contentious approval process, Plaza Towers diversified downtown’s residents and introduced a synergistic mix of new uses. At the time, Iowa City’s downtown was regressing into a “campus town” and losing its role as the community’s commercial and cultural center. To support permanent resident population, the project interwove a complex program in collaboration with a local hotelier, a gym operator, holistic healing practitioners, a grocer, and the adjacent public library. Efficient use of materials and building systems enabled the project to meet a $126/sf first cost that could be supported by a proforma. Plaza Towers opened fully occupied and has been since. The grocery store, restaurant, office space, and hotel adds vitality to downtown. The project is a community gathering place, integrating an active adult population into downtown’s fabric while nearly tripling the CBD’s tax base and embedding infrastructure to support and catalyze local investment.
Plaza Towers opened opportunities to replicate success locally and regionally. Similar projects are under design in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Des Moines. The team openly shares Plaza Towers’ design and execution concepts and volunteers financial data to aid developments in other Midwest cities.