The Midland Building in downtown Des Moines, scheduled for a major transformation from office building to boutique hotel, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, according to a release from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.

The department’s State Historic Preservation Office oversees the National Register of Historic Places program in Iowa. “This recognition marks an important milestone for the Midland Building as it continues to preserve the legacy of its past for future generations of Iowans to enjoy,” Laura Sadowsky, state historian, said in a statement.

When it was built in 1913, the 12-story structure was named for Des Moines businessman George Hippee, president of the Iowa Loan & Trust Co., which owned the building and occupied it from 1914 to 1926.

At the time of its construction, the Midland was touted by developers as being fireproof, a common but exaggerated claim in the early 20th century trend of skyscraper construction that used new technological developments such as steel frames, terracotta tile, brick and concrete, according to the release.

The Midland Building was constructed at a time when the downtown skyline was being reshaped by the six-story Flynn Building (1906), the 11-story Fleming Building (1907), the 10-story Hubbell Building (1913) and the 19-story Equitable Life Building (1924).

In February 2017, Chicago-based Aparium Hotel Group bought the Midland and later announced a $40 million historic rehab and hotel conversion. Read more.