Iowa Transportation Museum - Grinnell, Iowa
Restoration Event
Iowa State University Morrill Hall - Ames, Iowa
Careful Attention to Detail
Iowa State Capitol - Des Moines, Iowa
Ottumwa Theater Facade
Investigating Restoration Needs
The World Food Prize - Hall of Laureates - Des Moines, Iowa
Harbach Lofts - Des Moines, IA

Contact us about your project

historicrestoration@rdgusa.com

History is an ongoing story. We’re passionate about continuing it.

Some projects strive for a strict interpretation. Others strike a balance with modern amenities. Whatever yours requires, we’ll guide you through the process — from tax credits and grants to historic preservation standards. We're passionate about architectural restoration, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse. We're all about restoring, preserving and rehabilitating buildings using the gentlest means possible. In the end, every project is a unique celebration that respects the past, serves the needs of current users, and creates a statement for future generations.

Video Resources

Several RDG professionals were presenters at the 2020 Preserve Iowa Summit. Check out recordings of their sessions!

Music History as a Preservation Catalyst

Revitalization of Dubuque's Central Avenue Corridor

How the Big Muddy has Shaped Today's Communities

View more videos from the Summit on the Iowa Culture YouTube site.

What Do We Do With This Big Empty Industrial Building?

Rehabilitating Factories, Warehouses, and Auto-Related Buildings
The Industrial Revolution is long over, but many of the solid, utilitarian buildings built to support that manufacturing boom remain – often in deteriorating condition. How to approach making them newly vibrant, contributing structures in their communities? RDG professionals share their knowledge here.

In the News

Edna Griffin Building Renovation Recognizes Its History

Seven Dolors Catholic Church - Preservation Awards

Iowa 2019 Preservation at its Best Awards

Rehabilitation Work Continues on Hotel Maytag in Newton

What do the Terms Mean?

Preservation focuses on the maintenance and repair of existing historic materials and retention of a property's form as it has evolved over time.

Rehabilitation acknowledges the need to alter or add to a historic property to meet continuing or changing uses while retaining the property's historic character.

Restoration depicts a property at a particular period of time in its history, while removing evidence of other periods.

Reconstruction re-creates vanished or non-surviving portions of a property for interpretive purposes. 

Adaptive reuse is the process of re-purposing an existing building for a purpose other than what it was originally designed for. The building may or may not be of historical significance.

Resources

Check with us for help with:

Community Development Block Grant Process
Historic Structures Reports
Feasibility Studies
Adaptive Reuse
Building Facade Revitalization
Whole Building Rehabilitation and Restoration
Historic Preservation
Historic Tax Credit Applications
Space Planning
Historic Design Guidelines
Sustainability


 

RDG is a proud member of:
Preservation Iowa
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Construction Specifications Institute