Photo special to the Business Record.

OPN Architects Inc. on Monday was awarded a contract to conduct a workspace utilization study to determine space needs of several city of Des Moines departments that will likely relocate to a downtown office building.

The Des Moines City Council in September approved the purchase of an office building at 1200 Locust St. and a parking garage at 1200 Mulberry St. The five-story, 360,000-square-foot office building previously was occupied by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. The purchase price of the two properties totals $40.6 million.  

The council on Monday approved a contract not to exceed $528,000 with OPN. The architect firm will conduct a workspace utilization study to determine departmental needs, develop a master use plan, and estimate the costs of office design and renovations, according to a news release. The study’s first phase is expected to be completed in mid-2023.

City officials have said relocating government operations from five locations to the former Nationwide building will improve government efficiency and provide city employees with more modern and less crowded workspaces. The purchase of the building also fills vacant downtown office space and provides future economic development opportunities for two city-owned buildings and vacant parcels located east of the Des Moines River.

The two city buildings targeted for closure are the Des Moines Police Department headquarters and the Argonne Armory, which houses Development Services, Neighborhood Services, portions of Legal, and Information Technology.