Developer Robert Bergazyn worked in many cities across the country and served in the U.S. Air Force before moving to Des Moines six years ago. Even though he was “retirement age” when he came to Iowa, he was not ready to quit working. The challenge of living in a new city hasn’t slowed down his career, and he is in the middle of a $15 million redevelopment project of the former EDS Building on the southeast corner of 10th and Mulberry streets. This year, he will convert the building with the green façade into 65 housing units, which will be called the 111 City Lofts. When he’s not working, photography is his passion.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in New York City and spent the first 18 or 19 years of my life there.

I went to college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where I studied building construction.

What attracted you to that area of study?

I guess I had become mildly passionate about architecture because of something I read about Frank Lloyd Wright. I didn’t really want to become an architect. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to become, so I thought that would become a sort of way station for my education.

What did you do after college?

I was in the Air Force for four years during the end of the Korean War. Then I went to work for a contractor and eventually moved to Philadelphia to do a commercial office building development. I met my wife, Carroll (Stoner, the travel and entertainment editor for Meredith Corp.’s Traditional Home magazine), and we moved to Chicago and lived there for 26 years. Eventually in Chicago, I started my own construction management firm in about 1980.

What was your first independent project in Chicago?

I was fortunate enough to have developed a lot of experience with major renovations, so we started out with renovating a pre-Chicago-fire small office building and the building that was known as the Marshall Field’s Annex. It was a 21-story commercial office building right across the street from Marshall Field’s that housed the Marshall Field’s men store. We redid that entire building for commercial office space, and the business just grew from there.

Did you find a lot of opportunity in Chicago for your business?

We probably did several hundred millions of dollars worth of projects. We concentrated on Chicago, but we would work on projects in other states for Chicago-based clients, too. In the beginning, for the first 15 years or so, we mainly did commercial, retail and some industrial work. Then we branched off into residential.

When you moved to Des Moines, did you plan on being a developer here?

We moved here because my wife had a great opportunity with her job. At the time, I was doing primarily consulting work. My clients didn’t have any problem with my moving, because Chicago is only 342 miles away. With cell phones and audio books, you’re able to keep in contact. I was in Chicago every week for about two years.

What led you to become a developer here?

I saw some wonderful opportunities in Des Moines. I think the downtown area is incredibly unique because it has maintained a strong commercial business base. I didn’t know any other part of the country where there wasn’t a mix of uses downtown, retail, commercial, residential. The residential component of Des Moines was missing, so we spent a little bit of time investigating the properties in town.

Why did you choose this building?

We’re on 10th Street. We’re the greatest, most sophisticated street in the city. You start with the hospital at the north end of the street, come down past the new library and the Temple (for Performing Arts) and Centro and Starbucks. Harry Bookey has done an incredible job of developing that building. You go down a block and you have the Hotel Fort Des Moines, Forty Three – which has the best bar in town at times, I think – and then Raccoon River (Brewing Co.) and our green beauty.

How did you feel about its outside appearance?

This building, I considered an incredible challenge. It was, quite possibly, the ugliest building in town. It seemed to me that everybody of a certain age had worked there at some time. We were able to buy the building inexpensively and can pass those savings on.

Why did you decide to incorporate ‘green’ building principles into this project?

I think it’s necessary for us to take a look at how we, as a contemporary society, deal with some of the problems that face us, such as ecology and energy efficiency. The industry has slowly developed opportunities to take advantage of ecologically friendly and sustainable elements of building design. So what we’re doing is we’re taking what I think is an intelligent approach to building development.

What has kept you in the building and development industry for such a long time?

Basically, I enjoy what I do. I’ve always found it challenging, and it requires a certain level of creativity. It can be really fun.

What do you do outside work?

My true passion is photography. Since I’ve been in Iowa, I’ve been focusing on Central Iowa landscapes. My work is now handled locally by Absolute Art Gallery. When you go to our Web site and take the virtual tours, the art that’s hanging on the walls are my photos.

Do you plan to do more projects in Des Moines?

I see more opportunities here. The residential renaissance that’s taking place will continue for a number of years and more people will come back to Des Moines. As more people move back, more development will follow. I hope I’m around to see how it unfolds. I’m 73. On a personal note, if anybody asks, I can no longer dunk a basketball.