Iowa City Public Works

Neumann Monson Architects

Recognitions: 2020 Central States Region Awards (Architecture), AIA Iowa 2020 Design Award, Impact Award 2022

Project Description

Public Works employees supply essential services to citizens in routine and emergency situations, from garbage pick-up and road improvements to snow removal and derecho clean-up. Their work directly impacts the safety and well-being of the community. Yet these services, and the employees that deliver them, are often taken for granted. Previous facilities were grossly lacking in space, ventilation, and lighting. The new facility provides a safe work environment while improving efficiency. This project is the first phase to consolidate services on a city-owned 14-acre site. The program includes shops, large-scale vehicle storage, and wash bays, with fire department training facilities to the west. The adaptable facility improves safety, reduces operational costs, and incorporates innovative sustainability features. The building’s east facade faces a residential neighborhood. It sets an edge condition for the well-trafficked bike trail that links recreational grounds to the north and south, establishing a civic presence that belies the rough-and-tumble functions occurring deeper in the site. Projecting windows modulate the structure’s scale and provide dynamic exterior lighting at night. The diffuse daylight they admit during work hours—combined with 40 skylights and translucent polycarbonate walls on the north and south facades—provides an optimal work environment with operational efficiencies. The west façade gives vehicular access to shops and wash bays. For a facility of this scale, each material selection has far-reaching cost, maintenance, and operational implications. Insulated precast panels were selected for performance, durability, and constructability. Panel sizing maximized construction efficiency, minimized transportation impact, and utilized regional materials. Both precast and polycarbonate glazing are modular, so replacement, repair, and expansion can occur with little service disruption. The building’s anticipated LEED Gold certification furthers the city’s commitment to carbon neutrality while acting as a symbol of citizens’ shared responsibility in responding to climate change.