Gary Enerson
Jester Park Nature Center front elevation reflected in water at dusk

Gary Enerson

Architect

Selected work in civic, healthcare, higher education, and community architecture, completed while at RDG Planning & Design.

Jester Park Nature Center

Conservation · Polk County, Iowa

A new nature center for Polk County Conservation. The building is about 75% energy efficient, with generous north glazing for daylight and movable partitions that keep the lower-level classrooms flexible. The park's original maintenance building became an indoor activity area with added staff and office space, and early neighborhood concerns gave way once the final design was shared.

Jester Park Nature Center front elevation by day
Back patio at dusk
Glazed corner and patio at dusk
Back elevation with two-story glazing at golden hour
Back patio with terrace seating

Dothan City Hall & Annex

Civic · Dothan, Alabama

A new mass timber City Hall and annex anchoring the revitalization of downtown Dothan. The buildings join the Innovation Center, also mass timber and built with locally sourced materials, and a series of repurposed landmarks in a revived arts and cultural district.

Civic campus main building, corner view
Civic campus street view
Civic campus building with wood screen facade
Dothan City Hall main building from the Main and Oates intersection
Terraced streetscape with lavender plantings

Sheldon Community & Event Center

Community · Sheldon, Iowa

A community building on the small lake left by the interstate's construction, sited at the water's edge for visual prominence. Flexible interiors host everything from local events to weddings, drawing visitors to Sheldon year round.

Aerial view of lakeside building with terrace
View from southeast
View from southwest
Lakeside elevation

Bettendorf Aquatics, Ice Rink & YMCA

Recreation · Bettendorf, Iowa

A renovation and expansion developed in partnership with the YMCA for shared facilities. Four distinct building types form a small village around the aquatics center and ice rink, keeping the site active in every season.

Completed aquatic center, aerial photograph
Completed entry with flag, photograph
Entry drop-off rendering
Aerial rendering of aquatic center and campus buildings
View to drop-off from entry
Concessions and food area
Ice building, south elevation perspective
Aquatic center pools, aerial rendering
Splash pad and leisure pool, aerial rendering
Gabled building with stone chimney

Des Moines University Campus

Higher Education · Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines University's new campus links administration, education, sim lab, and health and wellness buildings with skywalks. Shown here is the structured parking facility, which houses the loading dock and MEP infrastructure and is wrapped in a translucent Kaynemaile mesh screen.

West elevation with Kaynemaile mesh screen
South elevation at southeast stair
Maintenance yard

The Iowa Clinic at South Waukee

Healthcare · Waukee, Iowa

A new outpatient campus in one of the metro's fastest-growing corridors, near Jordan Creek Town Center and the Lutheran Church of Hope. A medical office building and an ambulatory surgery center share the site.

The Iowa Clinic at South Waukee exterior
South elevation, medical office building and surgery center entries
Medical office building entry from southwest
Surgery center discharge canopy from southeast