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Of particular note is the Architecture of the building. The original museum wing was designed in a combination of Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles by Eliel Saarinen in 1945 and completed in 1948 .


The Sculpture addition was designed in a Modernist style by I.M. Pei in 1966 and completed in 1968 . Legend says that Pei designed the south windows, which look out onto the rose garden, to resemble "PEI", but he has denied this.


The third wing was designed by Richard Meier and completed in 1985 . This wing was designed to allow as much natural ambient light in as possible, but the Art Center later decided to cover the external windows with rattan blinds when concerns over light damage to the paintings arose.

The Art Center also includes a reference library, restaurant and a gift shop. Workshops and seminars are conducted on a regular basis.

Museum hours are Tuesday - Saturday from 11pm to 4pm. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.


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The Des Moines Art Center