In 2023, the valuation of commercial building permits issued for new projects in the Greater Des Moines area exceeded $1.8 billion, a total boosted by permits issued for three data centers in Microsoft Corp.’s data farms in West Des Moines, a review shows.

Microsoft added data centers at its Ginger East, Ginger West and Osmium campuses, accounting for 57%, or $1,043,300,000 of the value of the permits issued for new commercial projects in 2023. (The Business Record reviews commercial building permits issued in 13 cities and Polk County.)

Other permits issued for new commercial projects in 2023 include a new Target store in Waukee, TopGolf and Bombers entertainment venues, 13 multifamily projects and three hotels.

In all, 2023 saw 156 building permits issued for new commercial projects in the Des Moines area. The following are the 10 projects with the highest building permit values:

Microsoft data center at the Ginger East campus
1475 S.E. Maffitt Lake Road, West Des Moines
Permit value: $358.6 million
Date issued: Aug. 16, 2023
Square footage: 245,000
Owner: Microsoft Corp.
General contractor: Weitz Co.

Microsoft data center at the Osmium campus, the last center planned at Osmium
5855 S.W. Kerry St., West Des Moines
Permit value: $345 million
Date issued: Aug. 16, 2023
Square footage: 250,000
Owner: Microsoft Corp.
General contractor: Weitz Co.

Microsoft data center at the Ginger West campus 
11100 Booneville Road, West Des Moines
Permit value: $339.7 million
Date issued: May 15, 2023
Square footage: 184,596
Owner: Microsoft Corp.
General contractor: Turner Construction

Warehouse in I-80 Business Park
2301 21st St. N.W., Altoona
Permit value: $43.1 million
Date issued: Oct. 3, 2023
Square footage: 455,321
Owner: Hawkeye Investment Partners I LLC
General contractor: Opus Group
Architect: Opus Design

Six-story, 192-unit apartment project called Union at Rivers Edge
1600 Indianola Ave., Des Moines
Permit value: $31.8 million
Square footage: N/A
Date issued: Dec. 5, 2023
Owner: The Annex Group
General contractor: N/A
Architect: Ask Studio

Foot surgery center and medical campus
3201 S.E. 37th St., Grimes
Permit value: $26 million
Date issued: April 4, 2023
Square footage: 58,580
Owner: Iowa Ortho
General contractor: Downing Construction
Architect: Downing Construction’s architectural team

Warehouse shell
12501 Plum Drive, Urbandale 
Permit value: $25.9 million
Date issued: Aug. 7, 2023
Square footage: 450,644
Owner: R&R Realty Group
General contractor: MW Builders
Architect: George Butler Associates Inc.

Bombers indoor entertainment venue
5055 Merle Hay Road, Johnston
Permit value: $25.4 million
Date issued: Nov. 15, 2023
Square footage: 75,000
Owner: Johnston Golf Development LLC
Builders: Keen Project Solutions
Architect: Imprint Architects/Confluence 

Target retail store that will anchor Waukee Towne Center
900 S.E. Laurel St., Waukee
Permit value: $25.3 million
Date issued: Sept. 5, 2023
Square footage: 148,000
Owner: Target Corp.
General contractor: N/A

Warehouse in I-80 Business Park
2402 21st St. N.W., Altoona
Permit value: $23.8 million
Date issued: Sept. 19, 2023
Square footage: 256,074
Owner: Hawkeye Investment Partners I LLC
General contractor: Opus Group
Architect: Opus Design

Source: Cities’ building permit records