Crews are making progress of the demolition of the Wallace State Office Building, formerly home to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Photo by Duane Tinkey
As demolition of the state’s Wallace Office Building nears completion, the Business Record took a closer look to learn more about the project to raze the iconic building that was easily recognized by its mirrored glass.
We wondered what happened to the state workers who called the building home since it was constructed in 1978, and about the future of the site.
The Business Record reached out to the governor’s office to answer those questions and more.
- The Wallace State Office Building faced considerable maintenance challenges. Renovations were estimated at more than $85 million, and the timeline for renovations was projected at four years. In 2023, Gov. Kim Reynolds decided to buy a new office building at 6200 Park Avenue using $18 million in one-time federal funds, a significant savings compared to the cost of renovation.
- The site will be restored to green space with no current plans to build another office building on the property. Since the land is on the Capitol Complex, selling it would require legislative approval. Reynolds proposed a bill last year to sell the land but the bill did not pass.
- The cost of demolishing the building and restoring the site to green space is $7 million.
- The Wallace Building once was home to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
- The 540 state employees who worked in the building were moved to the new office building at 6200 Park Ave., or the Hoover State Office Building between December 2024 and July 2025.
