Five Des Moines projects received a 2024 Best Development Award from 1000 Friends of Iowa during a ceremony at the Capitol this week. 1000 Friends of Iowa is a statewide nonprofit focused on land use and transportation. The awards honor projects that recognize connections between building and project development and quality of life, according to a news release. The the Great Outdoors Foundation’s Conservation Acceleration Fund won the Innovative Leadership – State award, Anawim Housing’s Star Lofts received the Mixed Use award, Harriet Street Brownfield Solar Field won the Brownfield Revitalization award, Sequel Architecture Historical Renovation got the Renovated Commercial – Small award, and Ingersoll Avenue Streetscape won the Transportation/Complete Series award. The Best Development Awards are selected from a pool of applications each year and judged by an independent group of jurors, the release said.

Other winners from across the state include:

• Innovative Leadership – Local: Rippling Waters (Ottumwa)
• New Residential: The Row on First (Council Bluffs)
• Renewable Energy: Albia Schools Solar and Battery Project (Albia)
• Renovated Commercial – Large: Willard-Hopkins Historic Rehabilitation (Marshalltown)
• Bright Futures: Luther College (Decorah)
• Renovated Residential: Historic Winterset High School Apartments (Wapello)