Des Moines Art Center gets Frankenthaler grant to replace HVAC system
- The Des Moines Art Center has secured a $100,000 Implementation Grant through the 2026 Frankenthaler Climate Initiative to replace its original 40-year-old air-handling system.
- The grant targets the primary driver of energy consumption in the museum's 1985 building, which was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier.
- Upgrading the outdated climate-control equipment within our Meier Building will substantially boost power efficiency and trim the Art Center's broader environmental impact.
The Des Moines Art Center has secured a $100,000 Implementation Grant through the 2026 Frankenthaler Climate Initiative to replace its original 40-year-old air-handling system. As the sole Iowa institution among 83 arts organizations nationwide selected for the funding, the facility aims to slash energy consumption by up to 60 percent while protecting its collection.
Replacing the Meier Building HVAC System
The grant targets the primary driver of energy consumption in the museum’s 1985 building, which was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier. According to announcements from the Art Center, the facility houses a major portion of the institution’s distinguished collection of art.
The aging air-handling infrastructure will be swapped out for modern equipment featuring advanced control technologies. Museum leadership estimates the upgrade will cut overall energy use in the Meier Building by 30% to 60% while tightening regulation over gallery environmental conditions.
Upgrading the outdated climate-control equipment within our Meier Building will substantially boost power efficiency and trim the Art Center’s broader environmental impact.
Kelly Baum, Director and CEO, Des Moines Art Center
Baum added that the infrastructure overhaul is essential for protecting displayed artworks and keeping them accessible to the public for future generations.
Broadening Campus-Wide Modernization
The latest award builds on a previous 2024 Catalyst Grant from the same initiative. That prior funding supported the installation of new LED lighting across more than 8,500 square feet of gallery space inside the institution’s I.M. Pei Building, constructed in 1968. Both projects fit into a rigorous two-year study of building envelopes and mechanical systems conducted by the museum. The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation established the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative in collaboration with Environment & Culture Partners to support sustainability and resilience across the visual arts sector.
Rather than simply cutting power consumption, groups are actively safeguarding their structures, bolstering durability, and turning their properties into pillars for enduring purpose.