Des Moines - 33 story high rise (515 Walnut Tower)

Post by **BRoss** » Thu Oct 30, 2025 5:45 pm

Saw on the DSM forum that this project has been paused due to lack of payment to the contracting company. I guess the loans have all been approved but are waiting on the final legal documents to close.

Hopefully this can resume soon. It sounds like it won't take long to resolve though.

https://www.kcci.com/article/515-walnut ... s/69150330

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Oct 30, 2025 11:06 pm

BRoss wrote: Thu Oct 30, 2025 5:45 pm Saw on the DSM forum that this project has been paused due to lack of payment to the contracting company. I guess the loans have all been approved but are waiting on the final legal documents to close.

Hopefully this can resume soon. It sounds like it won't take long to resolve though.

https://www.kcci.com/article/515-walnut ... s/69150330

It’s disappointing to hear of this stoppage..Let’s hope construction ramps back up soon, and there are no “modifications” to the original design…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Sat Nov 08, 2025 12:32 am

Work to resume next week with financing officially completed.

https://www.businessrecord.com/develope ... to-resume/

Post by **BRoss** » Sun Nov 09, 2025 7:14 pm

ZachJo wrote: Sat Nov 08, 2025 12:32 am Work to resume next week with financing officially completed.

https://www.businessrecord.com/develope ... to-resume/

That's great to hear! I just got caught up on the DSM forum's thread and while there was a lot of anxiety, I figured this would be resolved.

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 1:01 am

Updated pictures courtesy of DMRyan over at at UrbanDSM last weekend. I believe they’re now on floor 15 of work now.

Post by **BRoss** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 1:05 am

Looking good! I really like the sleek look of the completed floors.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Fri Nov 28, 2025 1:38 am

Hopefully Omaha can get something like this in the next few years. If not downtown then in Midtown or the Old Mill office park at I-680 and Dodge area . Like all the glass on the building.

ewilliams27 · Post by **ewilliams27** » Fri Dec 05, 2025 6:41 pm

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Fri Dec 05, 2025 9:24 pm

It’s gonna nicely extend the skyline from principal park and Iowa events center.

Doctor Fate · Post by **Doctor Fate** » Fri Dec 05, 2025 10:42 pm

How big is the lot that this is on?

ewilliams27 · Post by **ewilliams27** » Sat Dec 06, 2025 11:54 pm

1/4th of a block I believe

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Fri Dec 26, 2025 11:07 pm

More photos courtesy of DSMRyan. It’s at the halfway point in terms of floors poured.

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Wed Jan 14, 2026 2:56 am

Most recent group of photos from over at urbandsm.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Wed Jan 14, 2026 11:54 am

that's a sharp looking tower. I wish someone would pull the trigger on something like that here...anywhere.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 2:35 am

Looks good, can’t wait to see it when finished. Should be a great addition to an already strong skyline.

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Sat Feb 07, 2026 1:42 pm

From earlier this week

Doctor Fate · Post by **Doctor Fate** » Sat Feb 07, 2026 4:51 pm

ZachJo wrote: Sat Feb 07, 2026 1:42 pm
From earlier this week

This tower will make a big impact from this angle.

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 9:22 pm

Recent photos from UrbanDSM. I think there’s 11 more floos to go

WiinterU · Post by **WiinterU** » Tue Mar 10, 2026 3:34 am

thenewguy wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 11:54 am that's a sharp looking tower. I wish someone would pull the trigger on something like that here...anywhere.

We'll just break the laws of physics and bring it here. Des Moines tried to build a high-rise building just like it, but it was cancelled, and only the parking garage was built. We have two either in planning or about to be built.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Mar 10, 2026 9:43 am

WiinterU wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 3:34 am
thenewguy wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 11:54 am that's a sharp looking tower. I wish someone would pull the trigger on something like that here...anywhere.
We'll just break the laws of physics and bring it here. Des Moines tried to build a high-rise building just like it, but it was cancelled, and only the parking garage was built. We have two either in planning or about to be built.

"we," as in "omaha"?

Doctor Fate · Post by **Doctor Fate** » Thu Mar 12, 2026 5:55 pm

WiinterU wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 3:34 am
thenewguy wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 11:54 am that's a sharp looking tower. I wish someone would pull the trigger on something like that here...anywhere.
We'll just break the laws of physics and bring it here. Des Moines tried to build a high-rise building just like it, but it was cancelled, and only the parking garage was built. We have two either in planning or about to be built.

Which two are you referring to?

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Thu Mar 12, 2026 6:39 pm

Doctor Fate wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2026 5:55 pm
WiinterU wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 3:34 am
thenewguy wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 11:54 am that's a sharp looking tower. I wish someone would pull the trigger on something like that here...anywhere.
We'll just break the laws of physics and bring it here. Des Moines tried to build a high-rise building just like it, but it was cancelled, and only the parking garage was built. We have two either in planning or about to be built.
Which two are you referring to?

possibly referring to the OM hotel and state office discussion. Could be wrong

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Thu Mar 12, 2026 7:38 pm

The building looks nice, after a long skyscraper slump Des Moines has a new tower to add to its skyline.

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Wed Mar 25, 2026 12:02 am

How the tower looks during golden hour from principal park

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Wed Mar 25, 2026 1:49 am

Looking great....how many more floors does it have to go (about 10)?

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Wed Mar 25, 2026 2:35 am

They just got done pouring a floor today. There should be 9 floors to go.

Post by **BRoss** » Wed Mar 25, 2026 3:08 am

Nice, it's getting up there!

It ultimately being close to the height of the Ruan Center (36 stories) on the left will certainly add to an already great skyline.

While I have been following it heavily on UrbanDSM, I appreciate the updates you've provided ZachJo. AmesHMC's post from about a half hour ago also has a really great shot of the building.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Wed Mar 25, 2026 10:43 am

i still do have some skyline envy when it comes to Des Moines. If Omaha could somehow lure a developer into that UP lot...

arch_RP_planner · Post by **arch_RP_planner** » Wed Mar 25, 2026 6:32 pm

BRoss wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2026 3:08 am Nice, it's getting up there!

It ultimately being close to the height of the Ruan Center (36 stories) on the left will certainly add to an already great skyline.

While I have been following it heavily on UrbanDSM, I appreciate the updates you've provided ZachJo. AmesHMC's post from about a half hour ago also has a really great shot of the building.

The floor count of 515 Walnut and the Ruan Center will be close (33 vs 36) but final height will be a 101' difference, with the Ruan Center at 460' and 515 Walnut at 359'. The new 515 Walnut tower will be practically the same height as the Mariott Hotel, which is 365'.

I understand the building footprint is much smaller, but this is going up FAST. Exciting times for the mid-sized midwestern cities!

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Mar 25, 2026 8:09 pm

arch_RP_planner wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2026 6:32 pm
BRoss wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2026 3:08 am Nice, it's getting up there!

It ultimately being close to the height of the Ruan Center (36 stories) on the left will certainly add to an already great skyline.

While I have been following it heavily on UrbanDSM, I appreciate the updates you've provided ZachJo. AmesHMC's post from about a half hour ago also has a really great shot of the building.
The floor count of 515 Walnut and the Ruan Center will be close (33 vs 36) but final height will be a 99' difference, with the Ruan Center at 460' and 515 Walnut at 359'. The new 515 Walnut tower will be practically the same height as the Mariott Hotel, which is 365'.

I understand the building footprint is much smaller, but this is going up FAST. Exciting times for the mid-sized midwestern cities!

I am so sorry to be annoying like this but it would be a 101' difference not 99'. I know, I hate me too.

arch_RP_planner · Post by **arch_RP_planner** » Wed Mar 25, 2026 8:29 pm

Yes, that is my mistake, accidentally flipped to the wrong side of the coin.

Ankeny Husker Freak · Post by **Ankeny Husker Freak** » Sat Mar 28, 2026 4:23 am

arch_RP_planner wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2026 6:32 pm
BRoss wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2026 3:08 am Nice, it's getting up there!

It ultimately being close to the height of the Ruan Center (36 stories) on the left will certainly add to an already great skyline.

While I have been following it heavily on UrbanDSM, I appreciate the updates you've provided ZachJo. AmesHMC's post from about a half hour ago also has a really great shot of the building.
The floor count of 515 Walnut and the Ruan Center will be close (33 vs 36) but final height will be a 101' difference, with the Ruan Center at 460' and 515 Walnut at 359'. The new 515 Walnut tower will be practically the same height as the Mariott Hotel, which is 365'.

I understand the building footprint is much smaller, but this is going up FAST. Exciting times for the mid-sized midwestern cities!

Yes, it's going up fast indeed. Could've sworn a couple of weeks ago on a sunny day that the tower was evident from the East Mixmaster.

Ankeny Husker Freak · Thu Apr 09, 2026 11:43 am

Business Record has an update on the construction

https://www.businessrecord.com/walnut-t ... high-rise/

arch_RP_planner · Post by **arch_RP_planner** » Fri May 01, 2026 3:47 pm

The tower is really coming along. Sounds like there is only about 5-6 floors to go!

Post by **BRoss** » Fri May 01, 2026 4:02 pm

Looking good! It'll be cool seeing this top out over the next few months.

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Wed May 13, 2026 1:53 pm

Here’s some progress photos and an a small article from KCCI. I think they were either pouring the 28tb or 29th floor yesterday.

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Sun May 31, 2026 3:36 pm

Should be topped out sometime in June

ZachJo · Post by **ZachJo** » Mon Jun 29, 2026 2:02 pm

Some updated photos from the guys over at UrbanDSM.
They recently complete the last floor of pouring concrete last week.

Ankeny Husker Freak · Mon Jul 13, 2026 11:51 pm

From Channel 8's camera

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Jul 14, 2026 12:31 pm

The infill this provides for Des Moines’ skyline and foot traffic it will bring downtown is incredible. Omaha would be extremely lucky to have something comparable. Hopefully the conversion from office to residential and streetcar will bring the vibrancy and demand for something like this in Omaha.