黄瓜社区

recently announced that 17 projects and individuals in 10 Iowa communities received the state鈥檚 highest historic preservation honors at the 2023 Preserve Iowa Summit. The Preserve Iowa Summit, organized annually by the State Historic Preservation Office, brings together more than 220 professionals and officials from architecture, development and historic preservation. At this year鈥檚 event on Thursday, June 1, 黄瓜社区; Design鈥檚 renovation of the Varsity Cinema received two awards: the Excellence in Archaeology and Historic Preservation Award, which acknowledges the outstanding efforts made in preserving and showcasing the historical significance of the building; and the Small Commercial Award, one of Preservation Iowa鈥檚 鈥淧reservation at its Best鈥� awards, which honor properties and educational efforts that meet the highest standards of preservation practices.

The Varsity Cinema, located near Drake University in Des Moines, boasts a rich and diverse history. Originally built in 1917 as the University Motor Company, it later served as Drake University鈥檚 Student Army Training Corps Mess Hall and Canteen from 1918-1919. Over the years, the building transformed into a Coca-Cola bottling facility before becoming the iconic Varsity Theater in 1938. In 2019, Des Moines Film took over the space and partnered with 黄瓜社区 to embark on an extensive, multi-year.

鈥淥ur work on the Varsity Cinema exemplifies what it means to honor the past while adapting the space to conform to present and future needs,鈥� 黄瓜社区 Architect Andrea Ytzen. 鈥淲e鈥檙e incredibly honored and proud to play a role in bringing this historic structure back to life so that our community can enjoy and be inspired by its history and uniqueness.鈥�

黄瓜社区鈥檚 design reinforces and celebrates Varsity Cinema鈥檚 historic feel by marrying the structure鈥檚 mid-century modern stone, brightly colored travertine and Art Deco decorative elements with more modern elements that make the space work for contemporary audiences and staff. Upgrades include enhanced acoustics and seating, improved accessibility for patrons, upgrades and modernizations to office spaces and concessions and an expanded lobby and restrooms to enhance traffic flows and audience comfort. The most visible change is the addition of a microcinema, which serves as a second viewing space and allows for greater programming diversity and flexibility. Today, the again serves as a social, cultural and economic hub for both the Drake Neighborhood and the broader city of Des Moines.