318 Fifth Street

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Evaluation:

This is a contributing Fifth Street building within the historic district. This Modern style public building is now isolated from the district by the replacement of buildings to the south of it. While historic districts are rarely updated, in the event of such an update, this building would best be individually nominated to the National Register and the district boundary shifted southward.

District Characteristic	Yes	No	Findings/Recommendations
Two-story brick with narrow mass		X
Larger, broader massing	X
Other key façade features		X
Architectural style	X		Modern style
Prominent location		X	Prominent in its own right and is the north end of the district.
Original façade materials	X
Upper fenestration pattern		X
Sympathetic Storefront Infill		NA
Brick corbelled parapet		X
Cornice/coping (not metal)	X

Physical Description:

This is an excellent and very well preserved Modern style example of a combination city hall and fire station. Easily ignored when looking straight on at the building is the angled south front wall. The design focuses on the mix of angles and setbacks and the uneven parallel roof lines with a broad soffit edge and contrasting vertical elements (chimney and north end hose tower, the latter centered on the firehouse plan). The varied facade elements south to north consist of a blank brick wall, the aluminum entryway, a series of columns and long windows, and finally the twin doors of the fire station.

Documented Alterations:

The building exterior is barely changed since its 1968 appearance. The roof soffits are broader and noteworthy lettering for the city offices and fire department have been removed. Permits note systems upgrades in 1966, 1974, 1975, general remodeling 1972, a new roof and a $67,000 remodeling for Human Services in 2002. The assessor record notes a 1993 masonry addition demolition due to flood damage.

Commercial History:

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
SEO Expert			current
WDM Fire & EMS			current
West Des Moines Incubator		2017	2020
Integrated Telehealth Partners		2017
Pegasus Gallery		1996		Part of the complex
WDM Department of Human Services		2002	2013
Historic WJ Foundation		2011
aMazing Days	Sonja Cardani	2008
Waypoint Services		2004	2009
Transitional Housing Coordinator		2002
All City services		1954	1996	The new building was occupied by the city, library, water department and fire department in early February 1954 (Express, February 28, May 29, October 9, November 6, 1952; April 30, May 7, 1953; February 4, 1954).
Construction		1954		The First Lutheran Evangelical/Congregational Church was on this site until its demolition for the construction of this building. A new church was begun at 12th and Ashworth in 1950 (Express, May 25, 1950). The Fire Department acted to acquire this site and gave it to the city. A $136,000 bond issue passed in late 1952. The architects were Keffer & Associates. The general contractor was Kenworthy & Fehm of Ankeny, Goff Plumbing, Furlong & Baker Electrical were the other primary contractors.