Client Project Van Meter Industrial New Corporate Offices Holloman Air Force Base Fire/Crash Rescue Stations Kunkel, Bounds & Assoc. New Corporate Offices South Slope Cooperative
Communications CompanyCentral Office Expansion Bossard Distribution Center Gazette Communications Newsroom & Offices Community Bank Expansion & Renovation BankIowa New Retail Construction
Van Meter Industrial
New Corporate Offices
Morning Star Studio designed the new headquarters for Van Meter Industrial in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The building will accommodate up to 120 staff members and provide a training facility for 100.The single story structure will be a combination of brick, concrete block and stucco-look panels.
The interior will be provided with natural daylight and automatic lighting controls. Mechanical systems will include variable frequency drives distributed by Van Meter Industrial.
This project participated in the New Construction Energy Savings Program sponsored by Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy. The results produced a building that will use 50% less energy than prescribed by the Model Energy Code.
Morning Star Studio is providing Architecture and Structural Engineering services for this project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2008.
Learn more about Van Meter Industrial.
Holloman Air Force Base
Fire/Crash Rescue Stations
In order to meet the maximum response time to any point on the runways, three new Fire/Crash Rescue Stations needed to be added to the Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, NM.
Merrick & Company from Albuquerque, NM provided Architectural and Engineering services, while Morning Star Studio selected interior finishes and prepared the finish plans and specifications.
A Comprehensive Interior Design Notebook was provided with detailed specifications for Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment purchased on the General Services Administration contract.
The facilities include sleeping quarters, offices, training rooms, recreation and exercise rooms and dining facilities. Apparatus Bays were provided for storage and maintenance of the Fire Crash Rescue vehicles.This project is scheduled to be completed in 2008.
Learn more about Holloman Air Force Base
Kunkel, Bounds and Associates
New Corporate Offices
Kunkel, Bounds and Associates, a rapidly growing insurance brokerage, needed to renew it’s image and provide space for their growth, positioning them for their 21st century plans.
Located on the banks of a ravine, the modern design of the 11,000 square foot building is constructed of a combination of copper, aluminum and glass. The openspace flows from interior to exterior with exterior access from all three levels. The crisp horizontal planes appear to float around the core of the building. The building is currently under construction.
Morning Star Studio is providing Architecture and Structural Engineering services for this project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2007.Learn more about Kunkel, Bounds and Associates
South Slope Cooperative Communications Company
Central Office Expansion
Following tornadoes in 2006, South Slope Cooperative Communications was determined to protect their central office and the telecommunications equipment facilities of the co-op. The existing equipment building will be encapsulated and expanded. The new facility will contain 21,000 square feet and is designated to withstand 300 mph winds - a category F5 tornado.
The exterior walls will be 14-inch thick, pre-cast panels. The roof structure will be 34-inch deep pre-cast concrete double tees. Generators will provide emergency power for the entire facility.Morning Star Studio is providing Architecture and Structural Engineering services for this project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2008.
Watch LIVE construction progress through the South Slope Construction Cam.
Learn more about South Slope Cooperative Communications Company
Bossard
Distribution Center
(click any image to view larger photo)In the fall of 2004, construction began on the 209,000 square foot warehouse and office building for Bossard in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The company will receive hardware from over 160 vendors at this facility which will be tested and packaged in totes for specific customer equipment. The totes are then shipped to the appropriate client.
Two-thirds of the 183,000 square foot warehouse is high piled storage which will utilize robotic fork trucks. Delivery and shipping docks on opposite sides of the building streamline the process.
The 26,000 square foot office area is split into two levels. The first floor will provide space for 60 employees in a combination of open office space and private offices. The employees will enjoy the amenities of 2 conference rooms and a large break room. The quality control and testing services provided by Bossard are included in this area. The second floor is currently earmarked for future offices.
Morning Star Studio provided in-house Architectural and Interior Design services for this project.
Learn more about Bossard.
Gazette Communications
Old Capitol Town Center Newsroom and Offices
(click any image to view larger photo)Old Capitol Town Center is the new home for Gazette Communications in Iowa City, Iowa.
The newly remodeled 10,000 square foot area on the second floor combines the offices of The Gazette and the KCRG TV9 Iowa City Newsroom.
45 staff members occupy the largely open office layout, featuring systems furniture with varying panel heights & indirect lighting.
The newsroom overlooks the corner of Clinton and Washington Streets, with a balcony for live news broadcasts.
Learn more about Gazette Communications.
Community Bank
Expansion & Renovation
(click any image to view larger photo)In the winter of 2004, construction began on the 10,200 square foot expansion to the Community Bank in Muscatine, Iowa. The addition is 2-stories plus a basement, approximately 3,400 square feet each. The existing bank is being renovated and interior finishes are being brought up to date. The existing bank will also receive a new mansard roof to match the addition.
The completed project will include a new drive-up teller window and interior teller stations, several private offices, a board room, a break room, open work areas and room for future offices and cubicles on the second floor.
Morning Star Studio provided structural engineering and interior design services for this project.
Learn more about Community Bank.
BankIowa
New Retail Construction
(click any image to view larger photo)Morning Star Studio teamed up with architects Anderson, Holst, Trost and Svoboda from Waterloo, Iowa to construct this new retail facility for BankIowa.
Morning Star Studio was responsible for the interior design and selection of interior finishes and furnishings. Just off US Highway 20 in Waterloo, this mission-style retail facility provides added convenience for BankIowa customers. In addition to the drive-up ATM and teller windows, the interior includes walk-up teller windows, private offices and a comfortable lobby that invites customers to sit by the fireplace and enjoy a cup of coffee.
Morning Star Studio has been on the design team for two of BankIowa's Cedar Rapids locations and the renovation of their downtown Independence, Iowa facility.Learn more about BankIowa.
