Ingersoll Streetscape wins 2025 Best Development Award
Five projects with ties to The Avenues honored by 1000 Friends
The Ingersoll Avenue Streetscape project was among the winners during the 1000 Friends of Iowa 2025 Best Development Awards ceremony at the Iowa Capitol on Tuesday.
Ingersoll Avenue Streetscape Project Team, from left: Scott Almeida, Kirkham Michael and Associates; Lauren Kollauf, The Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand; Mike Ludwig, City of Des Moines; and Jim Host, Confluence Landscape Architecture.
The awards honor projects that recognize connections between building and project development and quality of life. With a mission focused on responsible land use, 1000 Friends of Iowa promotes smart growth planning principles that help achieve socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable communities.
The streetscape which won in the “Transportation/Complete Streets” category, was recognized for its widened sidewalks, protected off-street bike lanes, safer pedestrian crossings and enhanced transit amenities, creating a walkable and bike-friendly environment that prioritizes safety and accessibility.
Along with the streetscape, other projects with ties to The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand district were named winners including Star Lofts (2701 Ingersoll Avenue), Sequel Architecture (2513 Woodland Avenue) and two projects designed by ASK Studio (3716 Ingersoll Avenue).
The winning projects of this year’s awards in all categories are:
- Innovative Leadership – Local: Rippling Waters (Ottumwa)
- Innovative Leadership – State: Conservation Acceleration Fund
- Mixed Use: Star Lofts (Des Moines)
- New Residential: The Row on 1st (Council Bluffs)
- Renewable Energy: Albia Schools Solar + Battery Project (Albia)
- Brownfield Revitalization: Harriet Street Brownfield Solar Field (Des Moines)
- Renovated Commercial – Small: Sequel Architecture Historical Renovation (Des Moines)
- Renovated Commercial – Large: Willards-Hopkins Historic Rehabilitation (Marshalltown) – designed by ASK Studio
- Bright Futures: Luther College (Decorah)
- Renovated Residential: Historic Winterset High School Apartments – designed by ASK Studio
- Transportation/Complete Streets: Ingersoll Avenue Streetscape (Des Moines)
“We congratulate this year’s award winners and commend them on their great projects that highlight best practices in responsible land use and innovation in sustainable practices,” said Kari Carney, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Iowa. “Economic Development projects like those honored with this year’s awards create vibrant communities and serve as models for other Iowa communities.”
LEARN MORE: Explore the Ingersoll Avenue Streetscape
The Best Development Awards are selected from a pool of applications each year and judged by an independent group of jurors. This year’s jurors were Megan Down (Project Manager, Impact 7G), James Engle (Director, Iowa Downtown Resource Center, Iowa Economic Development Authority), Jeff Hanson (Business Development Lead, McClure Engineering), Ulrike Passe (Associate Professor and Director, Center for Building Energy Research, Iowa State University), and Bethany Wilcoxon (Senior Advisor, McClure Engineering).
1000 Friends of Iowa, founded in 1998, is a statewide nonprofit organization focused on land use and transportation.. Its mission is to unite Iowans in efforts to protect farmland and natural areas, revitalize neighborhoods, towns and cities, and improve quality of life for future generations. Additional details about 1000 Friends of Iowa’s smart growth priorities can be found at www.1000FriendsofIowa.org.
