How can Des Moines support a skyline that size

[Stevie]

As DSMGuy said, Des Moines has an insurance based economy. It attracts plenty of newcomers from out of state due to the high paying jobs.

Actually, Des Moines has the third largest insurance based economy in the world and the second largest in the United States. Hartford, CT has more though...that's why Des Moines is nicknamed "Hartford of the West".

I've also noticed that there's quite a bit of banking in the Des Moines area. Does anyone know what the West Towers in West Des Moines are for?

Anyway, the two large buildings downtown, that I'm familiar with, are the Principal Building and the Ruan Building. The Principal Building is very pretty. The Ruan however looks like it's rusting away. I hope they fix that someday.

[Notfromhere99]

The Ruan building's outside is trash. When it was built the geniuses who decided what the structure would be made of picked some type of iron that typically fares better in dry climes. So it's basically just rusting away. It could be a pretty building. They should just tear it down and start new.

[DSMGuy]

I talked to an architect about that building a long time ago and he said it is built with Cor-Ten steel, which is a very strong steel and there is no danger of the building rusting away. In fact, he said the building facade is much sturdier than most buildings have and will last much longer.

Unfortunately, it is an eyesore with its uneven rusting. It was called one of the grimmest office buildings in any American city by a well known architect.

It contributes to a great skyline though, and I wouldn't wish for them to tear it down anytime soon, although it looks much better at night.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Is outsourcing to India a threat the Des Moines economy? What types of jobs are typically performed by the people that work for the big insurance companies and banks? On a similar note, how diversified is the economy there? Is it more or less a one industry town?

[Tek_Freek]

Ruan building: "In Rust we Trust"


Not!