Masonry Institute of Iowa Announces Architectural Design Award Winners
RDG Planning & Design has been recognized with multiple awards for promoting masonry use.
The Masonry Institute of Iowa (MII) presented its annual Architectural Design Awards in Masonry during the AIA Iowa Annual Convention on September 25, 2024. This annual awards event promotes the use of brick, stone and block in construction across Iowa. RDG Planning & Design received the Best Use of Brick Award and the People’s Choice Award for Des Moines University’s Medicine and Health Sciences Campus in West Des Moines, Iowa.
RDG’s design for Des Moines University's Medicine and Health Sciences Campus features a hand-laid brick veneer, helping minimize the building’s environmental impact and offering a timeless appearance as well as long-term durability. Notably, the masonry products used were manufactured or quarried within 350 miles of the job site, and the brick was manufactured within 20 miles of the campus, further enhancing the material choice’s sustainability.
Founded in the mid-1970s, MII works to promote the use of masonry materials such as brick, stone and block in construction, focusing on safety, economy and innovation. Through educational initiatives and collaboration with industry professionals, MII aims to enhance public safety, improve construction standards and support the growth of the masonry industry. The organization’s annual awards program honors projects completed within the last six years in the state of Iowa, with submissions judged by an independent committee of non-local architects.