August 19, 2019

Building Communities: Rowland Construction

No project is too big or too small for Andy Rowland and his crew at Rowland Construction.

For the past 11 years, they have been building, remodeling, renovating and providing commercial maintenance services to central Iowa communities. Now, the West Des Moines builder is bringing the same attention to detail and innovative design to the clubhouse they are constructing for EveryStep Foundation's Art of Compassion public art project.

EveryStep has partnered with local builders to construct themed clubhouses as part of a "Building Communities" public art project. The clubhouses will be raffled and auctioned this fall in support of EveryStep's 30+ non-profit care and support programs.

When approached by a long-time customer and EveryStep board member about joining the clubhouse project, Andy jumped on board. 

"It sounded like a fun project," Andy said. "It's kind of different than what we normally do."

Shortly after joining the project, Andy reached out to ID8 Architects, a design firm he often works with to gather ideas for the clubhouse. The entire team got in on the fun, providing differing plans for what could eventually become the clubhouse.

"It was a fun project," Andy notes. "They all had different designs, it was fun for everyone."

In the end, the group decided on a farm stand-themed clubhouse. The design, which Andy describes "very Iowa," includes a tall silver silo that will be converted into a look-out tower.

The 8-by-10 clubhouse will eventually include white-shiplap walls and awning windows.

"I hope people see Iowa," Andy says of the house. "We're showing the farming side of the community. I can really see this in someone's yard."

Rowland Construction's farm stand clubhouse will debut on Sunday, Sept. 1 at Jordan Creek Town Center, when EveryStep officially kicks off its third annual Art of Compassion fundraising initiative with the unveiling of its Community of Clubhouses public art project.