HISTORY & RENOVATIONS

  • 1978

    Building Built

    Originally built to house mainframe computers, the building was turned into a call center and later vacated in 2011. Designed by Des Moines architect Charles “Chick” Herbert, whose credits include the Des Moines Civic Center and Iowa State University’s College of Design.

  • 2009-10

    Advisory Committee Formed

    Leaders from business, arts and government came together in support of the vision and helped shape a path for making it a reality.

  • 2011

    ​Local Demand Study

    Grass roots effort to demonstrate need for permanent affordable workspace existed.

  • 2012

    Nonprofit Formed

    Under the name DesMoinesArts, name changed to Mainframe Studios in 2016

  • 2014

    Building Purchased

    160,000 Square Feet and 5 floors

  • 2015-16

    Renovation

    Demolition took nearly entire building back to the precast concrete, curtain-wall shell; 164 new window openings added; 110,000 SF of concrete flooring ground down and burnished; entirely new electrical, plumbing and sprinkler systems installed

  • 2017

    Phase 1 Opened

    Included three of five floors (lower level, first and fourth floors), 75 studios and an event rental space of 4600 SF with adjacent commercial kitchen and resident caterer

  • 2021

    Phase 2 Opened

    Added 58 more studios on 3rd floor. Opened during the pandemic. Renovations came in under budget and occupancy was at 100% within 30 days. Mainframe’s operating expenses became financially self-sustaining.

  • 2023

    Final Studio Floor Completed

    2nd floor opened to add 47 more studios

  • $15M+

    Total Project Cost

    Fundraising paid for the cost of purchasing the building, renovation costs and the cost of operations during the capital campaign.

Before Mainframe Studios…

Case Study & Local Demand Study

Case Study: Western Avenue Studios

Justin Mandelbaum co-founded Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, Massachusetts. The once vacant mill building complex is now home to the largest artist community on the East Coast. With 250 studios, 50 live/work lofts and over 300 artists, it covers 250,000 square feet.

Western Avenue Studios was established in 2005 and has helped spur Lowell’s sustained resurgence as a place for art and culture to thrive. It serves as a model for other cities seeking successful examples of how supporting the arts leads to economic prosperity for communities.

The complex also includes a gallery, a music rehearsal and recording studio, event space and cafe. Programming includes monthly open studio events, summer arts classes for children, after school programs for high school students, and fundraising for HIV/AIDS patients.

Western Avenue Studios

Local Demand Study

A demand study was conducted that described our nonprofit mission of creating “permanent affordable space for the local arts,” and provided sample floor plans and pricing. Surveys were tailored for artists, arts organizations and community supporters.

Resulting information from artists includes:

  • Clear demand by a broad variety of disciplines, such as shared theater rehearsal space and ceramics area, individual visual artists and craftspeople, video production, photography and music professionals, among others

  • Majority were currently working out of their home

  • 93% interested in participating in a monthly open studio event

  • 85% interested in display their work in a gallery

  • Likely work times were evenly distributed throughout days, evenings and weekends

The study demonstrated that Des Moines has a robust artist community and there is a strong demand for permanent affordable workspace.

Survey responses and comments were collected from:

424

Artists

27

Art Organizations

359

Community Supporters