.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} The building at East Seventh Street and Court Avenue has had an interesting history, ranging from being a freight station when it was built in 1901 to a series of failed restaurants.

“I think at one time it was even a gentleman’s club,” said Paul Tyler, an attorney in Des Moines.

But this fall it will enter a new stage of its life when it becomes the headquarters for the Iowa State Bar Association.

“This is the first time we’ve owned our own facilities in our history, dating back to the 1870s,” said Tyler, who serves as chairman of the association’s building committee. “We felt this would be a good opportunity for the organization.”

Tyler said several factors played into selecting this particular building for the Bar Association’s new home base. First was its proximity to the Iowa Supreme Court, something everyone involved felt was very important. Second, the Bar wanted to remain a part of the East Village. It is currently leasing space at 521 E. Locust St. Third, Tyler said the historical character of the building made it an ideal location for an organization steeped in a rich history of its own.

The 15,000-square-foot building will not only house the state bar association, it will also have space available for the Polk County Bar Association and the Volunteer Lawyer Project, a group that provides legal aid to low-income Iowans.

Renovation is expected to be complete Oct. 1. Tyler said the bigger building will allow the Bar to do things it couldn’t do in the past, such as provide facilities for out-of-town lawyers, such as conference rooms for depositions. The biggest new feature, however, is the auditorium-style room on the second floor, which will provide a space for continuing legal education programs, Tyler said.

“Everyone is really excited about this project,” he said. “It really raises the visibility of our organization.”

The Bar acquired the property in June 2006. It has currently raised $2.5 million for renovation. Its goal is to raise $3 million.

Green Horizons

Construction on a 14,100-square-foot business and retail center in Grimes is under way. The complex will consist of two single-story buildings, each having 1,500- to 1,800-square-foot bays for sale or lease.

Ground was broken on the project July 26 near the intersection of Iowa Highway 141 and Northwest 62nd Street. Its developer, Green Horizons LLC, says commuters will have easy access, with a planned traffic signal in the works.

Plans for the site were developed by InVision Architecture and Engineering Resource Group Inc. Construction is expected to be complete late this fall.