A growing, local civil engineering firm plans on constructing an office/warehouse building on vacant property in Des Moines’ Central Place Industrial Park, north of University Avenue and west of the Des Moines River.

On Tuesday, the city’s Urban Design Review Board approved design plans for the construction of the 8,208-square-foot building at 85 Jefferson Ave. (An alternative address for the property is 1805 Ohio St.)

The building will include office and warehouse space, conference rooms, restrooms and breakrooms, according to information provided to the board. A mezzanine will include storage and office space. Also proposed is a small rooftop deck that will provide views of the nearby river and downtown skyline.

Geothermal pumps will be used as the building’s primary source of heating and cooling.

The project is estimated to cost $6 million, according to city documents.

The new building will be occupied by LT Leon Associates Inc., a 15-person civil engineering and landscape architect firm.

Luis Leon, the firm’s principal, said the new office building will allow the company to use space more efficiently and provide room for the firm to grow.

LT Leon Associates had previously been located in leased space in the East Village. Over a year ago, it acquired property at 1823 Ohio St. that abuts the north property line of the Jefferson Avenue parcel that is owned by the city of Des Moines. When construction is completed, Leon said his company will relocate from the one-story building at 1823 Ohio St. to the new facility.

“I became aware that the land was for sale and was interested in it for the future of my company,” Leon said during the board meeting. “We started looking at different designs and we feel [the one before the board] is the most efficient use of vehicle movement, parking lot layout, and accomplishing the goals we need for our business.”

Leon, doing business as Maruca LLC, has a purchase agreement with the city to buy the vacant lot at 85 Jefferson Ave. for $15,000. The agreement was approved by the council in March 2023.

A construction timeline for the project was not included in information provided to the review board.