The Fifth (Des Moines) facts for kids

The Fifth is a tall building, also known as a skyscraper, being built in Des Moines, Iowa. It is being developed by a company called Mandelbaum Properties. When it is finished, probably in 2022, it will be the second tallest building in all of Iowa!

This exciting new building will have many different parts. It will include a movie theater, a hotel, a place for cars to park, shops, and homes for people to live in. Building started in late 2018 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

Building The Fifth: A Look at Its History

The Fifth skyscraper is located on Fifth Avenue in downtown Des Moines. It sits between Court Avenue and Walnut Street. Once it's completed, it will be the second tallest skyscraper in Iowa.

The construction of The Fifth is happening in three main parts. The first part is a 12-story parking garage, which is already being built. The other two parts, the main tower and the movie theater, will be built next.

Early Plans for The Fifth

Back in April 2016, the city leaders in Des Moines approved the first plans for this building. At that time, the plan was for a 32-story tower. It was expected to cost about $107 million.

The early ideas for the building included 200 fancy apartments, a movie theater, and even a climbing wall. There were also plans for a jazz club and a daycare. However, some of these ideas, like the climbing wall, jazz club, and daycare, were later removed from the project. A hotel was added to the plans instead.

Changes and Delays

A vote to start building happened in September 2018. The developers had until October 2019 to begin construction. They were supposed to finish the project by September 2021.

However, the completion date was moved back in March 2019. This happened because the project became bigger than first planned. This meant more time was needed for final designs and permits.

The tower grew taller, from 32 stories to 39 stories, and the cost went up to about $170 million. The most recent plans show the building will have 40 floors and cost around $180 million. A special hotel called 21c Hotels will manage the hotel part of the building. This hotel chain is known for its art galleries that are open to everyone all the time.

The main tower is expected to take three years to build. The movie theater part should take two years. A company called Alamo Theaters, from Omaha, Nebraska, will manage the movie theater. Alamo Theaters are special because you can eat while you watch a movie! The whole project will also include shops on the ground floor of the parking garage. There will also be a restaurant on the first floor of the theater building.

Construction for the tower is now expected to start in the spring of 2020. This means the whole project should be finished in late 2022.