Krause Gateway Center
Des Moines, Iowa, United States
A multi-purpose hub at the heart of civic life
The Krause Gateway Center was designed by world-renowned architecture firm, Renzo Piano, to foster a dialogue between the employees, the public, and the city. Inside, Fritz Hansen pieces add a timeless appeal to a space flooded with lightness and simplicity.
At 160,000 square feet, the 6-storey building serves as the new headquarters for Kum & Go, but also provides many spaces open to the public. It features a 2-storey underground parking garage, an art gallery, large multifunctional meeting rooms, a fitness centre, and a massive exterior terrace.
Framed by over 100 trees and interactive landscape furniture, the building itself makes up only a quarter of the site, leaving the rest for the public. Featuring an almost-invisible façade and unobstructed 360-degree views, the ground floor blurs the boundaries between inside and out. The extra-long overhang offers shade from the sun, while a green roof planted with native prairie grasses and flowers lessens the impact of energy usage and water run-off.
The interior is dotted with Fritz Hansen classics, including the iconic Series 7™ chair designed by Arne Jacobsen. Made from 9 layers of pressure moulded veneer with chrome legs, the chair is the most popular design within Fritz Hansen’s chair collection.
In the meeting rooms and foyers, the Swan™ chair, also by Arne Jacobsen, makes a statement in bright red and orange tones. The design contains no straight lines, making it look organic and soft despite its simplicity and strong architectural appeal.
As well as serving as the new Kum & Go corporate headquarters, the building also includes offices for the other companies within the Krause Group - a varied set of businesses that include retail, logistics, Italian wineries, hospitality, real estate, agriculture, and soccer clubs.
Since opening its doors in 2018, the Krause Gateway Center has won several design awards, including the ASLA 2020 Honor Award for Built Design.
Framed by over 100 trees and interactive landscape furniture, the building itself makes up only a quarter of the site, leaving the rest for the public. Featuring an almost-invisible façade and unobstructed 360-degree views, the ground floor blurs the boundaries between inside and out. The extra-long overhang offers shade from the sun, while a green roof planted with native prairie grasses and flowers lessens the impact of energy usage and water run-off.
The interior is dotted with Fritz Hansen classics, including the iconic Series 7™ chair designed by Arne Jacobsen. Made from 9 layers of pressure moulded veneer with chrome legs, the chair is the most popular design within Fritz Hansen’s chair collection.
In the meeting rooms and foyers, the Swan™ chair, also by Arne Jacobsen, makes a statement in bright red and orange tones. The design contains no straight lines, making it look organic and soft despite its simplicity and strong architectural appeal.
As well as serving as the new Kum & Go corporate headquarters, the building also includes offices for the other companies within the Krause Group - a varied set of businesses that include retail, logistics, Italian wineries, hospitality, real estate, agriculture, and soccer clubs.
Since opening its doors in 2018, the Krause Gateway Center has won several design awards, including the ASLA 2020 Honor Award for Built Design.
Q&A
Giorgio Bianchi, Architect Partner, Renzo Piano Building Workshop
FH: What was the objective for the space design?
GB: The aim was to create a space that celebrates the beauty of life. The client wanted to minimize the barriers between the corporate world and the local community, so transparency and openness were key. The ground floor was designed to blur the boundaries between inside and out. Here, the canteen provides a space for employees and community guests to enjoy. Elsewhere, the auditorium features endless possibilities, offering a backdrop for lectures, public events, and client workshops.
Mr. Krause is an art collector, so the building is also brimming with art. One time, I asked: “Why don’t you put a label on the art?”. He responded: “Do you put a label on your house? No, it’s art, and this is my home”. In my opinion, Mr. Krause is a visionary. He wanted a space for work, but also a place to enjoy a bit of life with the soul of the space being the courtyard, open and important.
GB: The aim was to create a space that celebrates the beauty of life. The client wanted to minimize the barriers between the corporate world and the local community, so transparency and openness were key. The ground floor was designed to blur the boundaries between inside and out. Here, the canteen provides a space for employees and community guests to enjoy. Elsewhere, the auditorium features endless possibilities, offering a backdrop for lectures, public events, and client workshops.
Mr. Krause is an art collector, so the building is also brimming with art. One time, I asked: “Why don’t you put a label on the art?”. He responded: “Do you put a label on your house? No, it’s art, and this is my home”. In my opinion, Mr. Krause is a visionary. He wanted a space for work, but also a place to enjoy a bit of life with the soul of the space being the courtyard, open and important.
FH: Why were Fritz Hansen products relevant for the project?
GB: Fritz Hansen’s pieces possess a strong identity without being overly designed. They each represent a period in history, while also being timeless in form and functionality. We started with the Series 7™ chairs in the auditorium — they needed to be stackable yet elegant. The space features so much light and glass — everything on the outside is also part of the inside. We selected the Swan™ lounge chairs for the lobby because they are more human in form, colorful and timeless. We needed something to ‘inhabit’ the space. For the public space on the ground floor, we wanted to create an open space, and the Series 7™ chairs in two heights lay the foundation for an airy and welcoming space. We like to mix brands, and all the brands selected for this project are timeless.
FH: What make this project special?
GB: The building is open to the city and the local community and is therefore designed to be welcoming and completely transparent. In a city where many things are held separate from the community, the open space, glass facade and natural light is one of the building’s greatest strengths.
FH: Were there any challenges in the design process?
GB: The building features a large cantilever, which can prove quite challenging in the instance of snow and wind. In general, there is always something to vet, but if you believe in where you want to go, you can always get it done with a bit of determination. You just need a team that really believes in what they’re doing, so we all head in the right direction.
GB: Fritz Hansen’s pieces possess a strong identity without being overly designed. They each represent a period in history, while also being timeless in form and functionality. We started with the Series 7™ chairs in the auditorium — they needed to be stackable yet elegant. The space features so much light and glass — everything on the outside is also part of the inside. We selected the Swan™ lounge chairs for the lobby because they are more human in form, colorful and timeless. We needed something to ‘inhabit’ the space. For the public space on the ground floor, we wanted to create an open space, and the Series 7™ chairs in two heights lay the foundation for an airy and welcoming space. We like to mix brands, and all the brands selected for this project are timeless.
FH: What make this project special?
GB: The building is open to the city and the local community and is therefore designed to be welcoming and completely transparent. In a city where many things are held separate from the community, the open space, glass facade and natural light is one of the building’s greatest strengths.
FH: Were there any challenges in the design process?
GB: The building features a large cantilever, which can prove quite challenging in the instance of snow and wind. In general, there is always something to vet, but if you believe in where you want to go, you can always get it done with a bit of determination. You just need a team that really believes in what they’re doing, so we all head in the right direction.
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