FRK Architects-Engineers P.C.

Welcome to the Frevert-Ramsey-Kobes online portfolio!

Frevert-Ramsey-Kobes is a professional architectural-engineering firm that has been serving clients since 1923. FRK coordinates complete architectural services including programming, site analysis, design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, structural engineering, interior design, and site development. We serve clientele from the public and private sectors, providing them with expertise in educational, commercial, public, and industrial buildings.

The next seven pages will take you through an overview of the different areas we focus on. At any point, you may use the menu buttons on the left to browse individual portfolio projects or to go to another area of our site.

Please click the 'next' button to continue.

K-12 Schools

FRK is a recognized leader in designing educational facilities. Over the past ten years, we have completed over 65 elementary, middle school, and high school projects across Iowa, for a total of over $180 million in construction.

Any renovation, expansion, or new K-12 educational project involves many complex issues, including listening and responding to the feedback of the many people who will share the facility, completing the project on time and in budget, and delivering a building that is attractive, functional, and a source of pride for its students and staff.

At FRK, working with you to take on these challenges is what we both enjoy and excel at.

College and University Facilities

In addition to our experience with elementary and secondary education, FRK has worked with many higher education projects. In recent years we have completed projects at several colleges across the state, including a student center, a dormitory, and a college library combined with a community center for the local town.

We believe in these projects because we believe education is the foundation of the quality of life in Iowa. We help educational projects succeed by combining our community-based approach with design excellence and outstanding personal service. Our ability to establish timelines, meet deadlines, and be on budget has been proven time and time again.

Government Buildings and Libraries

FRK's interest and expertise in community-based projects extends also to city halls, courthouses, libraries, community centers, and other similar endeavors. We enjoy working with projects like these that enhance the physical structures which form of the fabric of many communities across Iowa.

Many of our projects have involved renovations and expansions--for example, renovating a former school building to become the new city hall for the Ames community, or renovating and expanding an existing Carnegie library in the town of Atlantic. These projects require solid expertise and careful planning in order to best combine the old and the new, and in many cases, to allow for continued use of existing facilities while new construction is underway.

Religious Facilities

FRK has extensive experience with religious programming and design. We have worked with both renovation projects and new church construction, helping church communities to develop projects that meet their needs, work well with existing facilities, are completed on budget, and ultimately reflect the beauty of their faith.

Many of our religious projects have involved expansion of existing facilities for churches in fast-growing communities--such as a new classroom wing for St. Patrick's in Hampton, a new community center for St. John's in Ames, and an enlarged sanctuary for Our Lady's Immaculate Heart in Ankeny. We also have developed expertise in master planning, working with communities to understand and prepare for their needs of the future.

Commercial Construction

Another area of FRK expertise is commercial building and renovation. We have worked with a great diversity of commercial projects, including office spaces, retail stores, hotels, and banks. Some of our commercial projects within the past year or two include several retail stores, a new drive-through facility for Iowa Falls State Bank, and a new office for our own firm.

Our philosophy is to build for the client rather than for ourselves. This has resulted in projects that are functional, site sensitive, and tailored to specific needs. Our architects and clients work together to clarify functional needs, responsibilities, costs, and time tables. The client is encouraged to take an active role in the design process, which allows us to understand what is needed before the first line is drawn.

Multi-Family and Health Care Residential Facilities

Finally, FRK has strong experience designing residential facilities such as multi-family apartment buildings and health care institutions. We have worked with a number of commercial developers to design affordable, attractive apartment complexes in locations across Iowa, including Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, Carroll, Iowa Falls, Hiawatha, Mason City, and Bettendorf.

We have also entered the more focused area of senior housing. The 3801 Grand Retirement Campus in Des Moines is a residential complex with both independent and assisted living options. Our design for The Village in Indianola provides assisted living facilities and a medical clinic in a central building, with independent apartments and townhomes spread out across the expansive site.

Overview Conclusion

At Frevert-Ramsey-Kobes, we are proud of our history and the many clients we have had an opportunity to serve--but more importantly, we are excited to begin work for our next client, you.

At this point, you may select one of our portfolio categories to learn about individual projects more in-depth: