Building permits were issued in November for 14 new commercial projects in the Greater Des Moines area, including one to build a new high school in Urbandale for Des Moines Christian and another for a new retail development in Grimes, a Business Record review shows.

The value of the new projects is estimated at over $69 million, the review of building permits from 13 communities and Polk County shows. Since Jan. 1, 2025, permits have been issued for 152 new projects in the Des Moines area. Value of the new projects is estimated at over $857 million.

In May 2024, Des Moines Christian School bought land near Northwest 42nd Avenue and 136th Street in Urbandale on which to build a new high school campus. Enrollment in the private pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school has grown steadily in recent years requiring more space for students, officials have said. School officials have spent much of the past year planning for the future high school’s campus as well as the current campus.

A building permit issued in November for a 133,670-square-foot high school valued the project at $32.7 million. A second permit was issued for the construction of a new 14,766-square-foot early education center at 13831 Aurora Ave., the location of Des Moines Christian’s current campus. The early education center project is valued at just over $6 million, according to the permit.

Also in November, Grimes issued a building permit for the construction of a 7,819-square-foot retail center planned at 1100 NE Destination Drive. The center, valued at $1.1 million, is being developed by Signature Companies of Iowa.

A permit was also issued in November for work on a project to remodel two cardiac catheterization labs at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, 1200 Pleasant St. The project is valued at over $11.7 million, according to the permit.

MORE ONLINE:  

View the interactive map of building permits.

View the spreadsheet of commercial building permits issued since Jan. 1.