Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden set to grow with entrance plans

(712) 623-6500. THERE ARE BIG PLANS FOR THE ENTRANCE TO THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN. OFFICIALS SAY THE NEXT MAJOR RENOVATION PLAN FOR THE SPACE IS A RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF THE LOBBY AND ENTRANCE. THAT WORK IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NEXT YEAR. UNTIL THEN, THE GARDEN IS PROPOSING BUILDING A TEMPORARY ENTRANCE ON THE BUILDING’S SOUTH SIDE WHILE CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY, AND AFTER THAT, THAT AREA WOULD BE CONVERTED INTO OFFICE SPACE. THESE RENDERINGS ARE PART OF A

Plans for a safer and more accessible entrance go before Des Moines’s Urban Design Review Board on Tuesday.

Updated: 10:21 PM CDT Apr 3, 2026

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The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is planning a major renovation and expansion of its lobby and entrance next year. Documents submitted to the Des Moines Urban Design Review Board show that work is expected to start in 2027. To maintain access while that project is going on, the Botanical Garden intends to build a temporary entrance and addition on the south side of the building. Once the permanent entrance is complete, the temporary space will be converted into administrative or staff and volunteer space.The Urban Design Review Board meets at 7:30 a.m. on April 7. The Botanical Garden first opened in 1979. Since then, it has undergone one expansion project – which occurred in the 1990s. North wing meeting rooms, a greenhouse, a reorganized front entrance, and gardens along the riverfront were added at that time.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is planning a major renovation and expansion of its lobby and entrance next year.

Documents submitted to the Des Moines Urban Design Review Board show that work is expected to start in 2027. To maintain access while that project is going on, the Botanical Garden intends to build a temporary entrance and addition on the south side of the building. Once the permanent entrance is complete, the temporary space will be converted into administrative or staff and volunteer space.

The Urban Design Review Board meets at 7:30 a.m. on April 7.

The Botanical Garden first opened in 1979. Since then, it has undergone one expansion project – which occurred in the 1990s. North wing meeting rooms, a greenhouse, a reorganized front entrance, and gardens along the riverfront were added at that time.