Building permits were issued in October for the construction of two new buildings on Des Moines Area Community College’s Ankeny campus: a 26,000-square-foot dental building and a 72,000-square-foot Trades and Industry Center.

The permits were among 21 issued for new projects in October, a review of building permits issued by Polk County and 13 other communities shows. The permits valued the new projects at over $157.2 million.  

Since January, permits have been issued for 138 new projects in the Greater Des Moines area, the review by the Business Record shows. The permits valued the new projects at just over $788 million.

The new dental building on DMACC’s campus will allow the program to increase enrollment capacity by 25%, the school said in a news release. The new building will include simulation labs, modern classrooms, a public clinic and other spaces. The permit valued the building project at just over $5 million. The new building is expected to open in January 2027.

Also under construction on the DMACC campus is a Trades and Industry Center that will expand and modernize hands-on training for careers in the skilled trades. The center will house five of DMACC’s building trades, HVAC, diesel technology and fire science programs as well as its Ford Training Center. The new center will replace DMACC’s aging Buildings 14 and 20, which were constructed in the 1960s.

The permit valued the building project at $25.5 million. Construction of the center is expected to be completed by fall 2027.

Also in October, a building permit was issued for the Loop apartments and townhomes that will be located at 10600 Plum Drive in Urbandale. The project by Ankeny-based Caliber Co. has been planned for over three years. It will be similar to the Standard, a 184-unit multifamily development at 3611 NE Otterview Circle in Ankeny, and West Light, a 174-unit project at 1345 E. Hickman Road in Waukee.

The Loop, a four-story building whose exterior is predominantly brick and glass, will include 215 apartment units, 124 underground parking spots and over 5,000 square feet of ground-level commercial space. The project is located on 10 acres just east of Home Depot in Urbandale. The permit valued the project at over $39 million.

More online:

View the interactive map of building permits.

View the spreadsheet of commercial building permits issued since Jan. 1, 2025.