Des Moines, IA
City - 198,000 (est. 2004)
Metro - 511,000 (est. 2004)
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/july04se6thstbridge.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/Skyline2005_2.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/may2005skyline.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/july04desmoinesskylineindianolaave.jpg

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/MLK_View2.jpg

one of the capitol building
http://www.desmoinesriver.org/images/capitol%20from%20sec%20taylor.jpg

These beautiful pics are from Ingersoll1978.

wooooooooow! nice skyscrapers!!!! why all american cities have such a great and beautiful skyline?

10/10

SLIPKNOT come from Des Moines!;)

Btw, nice Skyline!!!!
:)

7.5/10
Des Moines has a nice skyline, and the Capitol building is a very impressive. By the way, what does 'Des Moines' mean. Is it french for 'Some ...'?.

:)

A pretty nice skyline. I like the way its build up around the 801 Grand. :) 7.5/10

What can I say? It's my home, and it's one of the best pound for pound per capita skylines in the US. I'll give it a 9.5. While there's always room for improvement, you'll be hard pressed to find a better US skyline in such a small place.

There's 200,000 in the city and 500,000 in the metro. 801 Grand the tallest, is 630 ft. tall, and there's 7 other buildings over 300 ft. tall. The city can think the insurance industry for the large skyline, as it's said to be the 3rd largest center of insurance headquarters in the world, after London, and Hartford, CT.

Des Moines was founded at the confluence of two smaller rivers: The Raccoon and Des Moines, but neither are navigable. The meaning of the name is "The Monks" in French, but orginally got it's name from the Native Americans as "the mound between two rivers"

Here's another photo, showing a slightly less impressive angle of the skyline, although showing more of the building mass.
http://www.pbase.com/image/17164609.jpg

7

Des Moines has an awesome skyline for its diminutive size

801 Grand is one heck of a building! And tall! Taller than any building in Cincinnati!

7/10

for a city I never heard of and that nice tower.

Des Moines IMO is an example all citys it size should follow. I just love the fact that such an awesome skyline is in Iowa. I mean, you know people traveling on the interstate come upon Des Moines and feel as if thier in heaven. 8/10

Nice skyline and very good looking too

8/10

very nice! I'm impressed....I'll give it a 7.5

7/10

small skyline

Wow, that last pic is great!!

9.0

Originally posted by Labrador

7.5/10
Des Moines has a nice skyline, and the Capitol building is a very impressive. By the way, what does 'Des Moines' mean. Is it french for 'Some ...'?.

:)

It means "the monks"

8.5

Very well-formed skyline (at least from most angles :) ), has a nicely defined focal point, good density and height, especially for such a small city. Me very impressed!

A 10? Des Moines? 20 miles outside of the city and you can't tell if the tallest building is an actual building or a tall farm silo.

10s should be reserved for cities like New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, etc.

Thats not true. A city doesn't have to have a large amount of buildings or a large population to have a 10. What a stupid comment.

Thats not true. A city doesn't have to have a large amount of buildings or a large population to have a 10. What a stupid comment.

In my opinion, a city does have to have a large amount of buildings to get a 10. We're rating the skylines right?

yep

yep

OK, so we're rating skylines. On a scale of 1-10, Des Moines is a 10? The best score possible?

I give Manhattan a 10. I like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. Whatever criteria you use to rate a skyline, I don't see how Des Moines can be given the same rating as Manhattan.

for its size it would be a 10. Compare it to another city of its size. A city can have a skyline thats a 10 without a worlds tallest skyscraper. To me what counts is height, architecture, and organization. 1. It has height, espescially for a metro of 500,000. 2. It has great architecture. I love 80s PoMo, so Des Moines is nice. 3. It is organized nicely and it has a great focal point.

For the size of Des Moines(200,000 in city, 500,000 metro)---I'd like you to point out a city center with a similiar population that has as many tall buildings as Des Moines. Des Moines has more of an impressive skyline than a lot of cities many times its size. DMRyan and myself have started a website devoted to the Des Moines Metro and Iowa Development. It's still a work in progress. The forums have a lot of pics and news. absolutedsm.com (http://www.absolutedsm.com) Come visit and tell us what you think! :)

Des Moines has several nice buildings that come together to produce a nice, but small, skyline. As for the remarks that it is impressive for the size of the metro, while this may be true, does it compare to that of the Gold Coast (Australia, city: about 450,000 - 500,000)? A very different situation I would think.

7/10

It's actually not to bad. 8.5.

This is an impressive 8.5 easily. All it needs is a couple of nice mid-risers placed in just the right spots to fill it out, and you've got yourself another Charlotte. I'm impressed! This skyline beats out some cities twice its size. BTW, what is the name of the tallest building? Is it a Bank of America?

The tallest building in Des Moines is 801 Grand. The Principal Financial Group built it in 1991. They have a whole campus downtown with over 9,000 employees, including one of my favorites being the "Z" building designed by Cesar Pelli in 1995 pictured below.

http://home.comcast.net/~ingersoll1978/ZBuilding1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~ingersoll1978/ZBuilding2.jpg

I drove through Des Moines once and nearly drove off of the road when I came to downtown!!!! Granted, it isn't great, but for it's metro's size (comparable to Fort Wayne, Indiana), it is a pleasant surprise!

BTW, what pro sports teams do people from Iowa follow? Chicago, St. Louis, MSP? Dare I say Indy?

Family I have in Iowa always did follow Chicago teams. I don't know if that's the case for everybody though.

For baseball...it's for sure the Cubs. The AAA team in Des Moines is the Iowa Cubs. That has a big influence. I think for football its probably a mix of all the nearby cities...KC, MSP, CHI, and STL. I would say Chicago is probably has the biggest "share".

Agreed. It's above the mean, but certainly not worthy of a 10. 6.5/10

9/10. I like it. A LOT.

Great for a small city: 8.5

10s? I agree with the anti-cheesehead that there's no way this city deserves a 10. I don't think the amount of buildings relative to a city's population should weigh very heavily in judging a skyline. How does the fact that Des Moines is a fairly small city somehow make its skyline look *better*? That fact alone doesn't make the skyline higher, denser, or more aesthetically pleasing above and beyond what it already is. I don't get it, really.

A reasonably tight cluster worth a 6.0.

I´ve always loved this type of skyline-small, concentrated and not nececerely that tall-a surprise! Great mix of buildings!

//Max

Nice signature tower. A little sparse, but still attractive. A 7.

I'm surprised by this Iowa just doesn't seem like the type of state for such a great skyline
very nice 8.5

not a ten by a long shot.
This is another one of those cities that you can take one building out and the skyline looks dinky. 801 is a cool building...but its really one of two tall buildings..the other being Ruan. The skyline is nice for a city its size, but its not that amazing. The downtown looks kinda small too. Anyway, Des Moines is still a really cool town in the Midwest..especially a city coming from Iowa.
The Capitol building is faboulous.

Indeed 10s should be reserved for Hong Kong, New York, Singapore, Shanghai, maybe chicago etc, give me a break 10, 9, 8, even 7 for Des Moines? Des Moines should recieve a 6, hundreds of citys beat out Des Moines skyline

Des Moines IMO is an example all citys it size should follow. I just love the fact that such an awesome skyline is in Iowa. I mean, you know people traveling on the interstate come upon Des Moines and feel as if thier in heaven. 8/10

Honestly when I was driving through Des Moines on 2 occasion...I felt like...I was driving a through another american city...It was a nice break from boring farms though :)


btw Des Moines means "The/Some/Any Monks (or Friars)" in French

WoW! Really nice surprise! 8/10 :okay:

8/10

Great skyline for a city its size. I give it a 7.5/10. :)

www.mawhamba.net/ blog/?m=200410:
http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/A22.jpg

: www.captainjack.com/ dm/dm.html:
http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/dsm1.jpg

Photo shot Jan. 7, 1997 using digital camera (8am) not taken by me:
http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/downtown.jpg

cool main tower....but kinda strangely arranged. 6.5/10

Indeed 10s should be reserved for Hong Kong, New York, Singapore, Shanghai, maybe chicago etc, give me a break 10, 9, 8, even 7 for Des Moines? Des Moines should recieve a 6, hundreds of citys beat out Des Moines skyline
Maybe you guys should consider the population size first. Obviously, a smaller population size city can't build many towers but for a city this size with this skyline definitely deserves a 10/10

Very Nice 9

I just simply love it!!!
10/10

8/10
pretty good skyline, but nothing special. Makes Madison and Grand Rapids look like an absolute joke.

people must be rich up there. 8/10

i live in madison which is slightly larger than Desmoines and i have to say des moines is very impressive especially for in iowa i about freaked when i saw that any iowa city could have such a great skyline i think the skyline is great i vote 8.5/10

i also think they need more skyscrapers to fill in the gaps but other wise its pretty good

I like it 8.0

7.5/10

Id say about a 7. The skyline is fairly impressive, but the city just looks so ugly. No offense. I guess I am just so used to the Northwest and all of our trees that if a city doesnt have them, I dont like it.

7/10

yeah thats true were the heck are the trees lol i dont even see 1 !

9/10

quite nice considering the city size= 7.5/10

7/10 not bad

I give a 10/10 because it's got a very impressive skyline for a small city. The architecture is also very elegant.

6.

7.5/10

Some nice-looking buildings, good arrangement, relatively dense (though some parts could still be filled in and some mid-rises could be built).

7.5/10

10/10. Des Moines has a very nice skyline for a city its size.

7.5/10

9/10

8.5/10

Some more pics of Des Moines (Metro 511,000)...

Check out what is happening (as in development) in Downtown Des Moines:
Downtown DM Project Page (http://www.absolutedsm.com/downtown_central_proj_page.htm)

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/03jan06skylinecloseup.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/july04desmoinesskylineindianolaave.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/MLK_View2.jpg http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/Meredith%20Gardens%20Skyline.jpg http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/good%20skyline%20copy.jpg http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Skyline_Photos/july04se6thstbridgeadesmoines.jpg http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/State%20Capitol%20Grounds/capwest2.JPG[/QUOTE]

10/10 for being so friendly, 10/10 for being so unique, and 10/10 for trying to prove that its skyline is worth the attention!!!

A 10? Des Moines? 20 miles outside of the city and you can't tell if the tallest building is an actual building or a tall farm silo.

10s should be reserved for cities like New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, etc.

What should size have anything to do with it? The skyline has great buildings and form. A skyline doesn't have to be massive and very tall to look great.

Also, they're new pics.

It's like uptown in Minneapolis.

I have traveled to Des Moines many times recently for business reasons. What an incredible transformation this city is undergoing! Great downtown and skyline, clean, construction everywhere. The suburbs are growing and are all appear to be very nice. I like this town alot....perhaps the next Minneapolis or Atlanta but on a smaller scale? 9/10

6.5/10

8/10- very well-developed for its pop.

alright De Moin!

10/10!

people must be rich up there. 8/10

Rich? Des Moines is not "rich" compared to most large American cities--- but the upper class of the city does have their living standard higher than most American cities, (e.g. NYC, LA, SF, Seattle, Detroit) so does the middle class.

Official population of the city is just around 200,000. That's around the size of Saskatoon.

wow :eek2: good skyline 10/10

9/10. For a city of this size, I'm extremely impressed. The skyline doesnt have the tired look that many smaller American skylines have. And the beautiful street level setting is an added bonus.

[QUOTE=Accura]. The skyline doesnt have the tired look that many smaller American skylines have.

Instead of using the word tired in your statement, I think you should've said
older and more recognized. :)

Gordon, how do "hundreds of cities" beat our skyline when we were ranked #73 (out of 681 cities) in the world? Des Moines gets a ten, partially because it's my home and partially because it has the best US skyline for any city its size and in height beats huge cities like Phoenix and, until recently, Baltimore.

Wasn't there a plan to build something called the Iowa World Trade Center some 10-15 years ago? IIRC it was supposed to be the tallest Midwestern building outside of Chicago at just a shade under 1,000 feet tall but for some reason or another it didn't work out.

Anyway DSM gets an 8 from me. I lived there many years ago and I must say its skyline is the most underrated in the Midwest. I don't think they'll get any more anytime soon, but 2-3 more skyscrapers in the 400-500 foot range would really enhance the skyline.

Yes, The Iowa World Trade Center (which would have been around 80 stories) was around back in the late 80's due to funding shortages and feasibility of it anyway. Speaking of adding buildings, we do have wo proposals of 10 ten buildings (one resdential and retail, the other spec. office and retail) and a 13 story building about to break ground next the Hotel Fort Des Moines to replace an old parking garge. It wil have some retail ground level, 7 stories parking garge (hidden behain a mesh wall) and 5 stories office.

Its decent for it's size, but that doesn't make it actually look any better. add in the fact that the most predominant building is pretty ugly. I just really don't like midsized American cities.

7/10.

i cannot for a second believe that people are giving this 'skyline' a 10 or anything above a 4 to be honest

are you kidding me?

there's like 5 buildings and they are on the same block! :wtf:

Spent a long freeeeeezzzzzzzing winter there in '92 - '93 and had the BEST time. Des Moines is a fantastic place with a great skyline. Just wish my city had a few more talls like DM.

9/10

i cannot for a second believe that people are giving this 'skyline' a 10 or anything above a 4 to be honest

are you kidding me?

there's like 5 buildings and they are on the same block! :wtf:

Quality over quantity, dude. It's all about the form. Just because it doesn't have anything super tall doesn't mean it's not great. Bigger isn't always better.

6,5/10

quite nice.. 9 :)

Far from perfect and architecture is very standard. Still 7/10

Not bad. quality*size/city size= 8/10 :)

Here are some newer shots from the summer:
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesl.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesg.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/31may2006/31may2006desmoinesa.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesa.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesd.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/misc/06jun27meredithgroundsc.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/misc/06jun27meredithgroundsb.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesf.jpg


We also have new 13 story mixed-use project under construction right now:
http://www.pbase.com/image/62009584.jpg

For a city with 195,000 (Metro 540,000)...I think we are doing very well Downtown. I can't wait to see it when it hits one million people.

Maybe the best in America for a city its size. 9/10

real good pics man

Hreat city never new they had such a nice skyline in Iowa. Very nice i love the cities tallest building what is it called?

Hreat city never new they had such a nice skyline in Iowa. Very nice i love the cities tallest building what is it called?

It's called 801 Grand. It's also known as the Principal Tower (it's mostly occupied by the Principal Financial Group). It's 630 ft. tall and was completed in 1991. :)

I'll bring the photos I posted on the last page over...

Here are some newer shots from the summer (2006):
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesl.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesg.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/31may2006/31may2006desmoinesa.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesa.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesd.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/misc/06jun27meredithgroundsc.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/misc/06jun27meredithgroundsb.jpg
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/06jun2006desmoinesf.jpg


We also have new 13 story mixed-use project under construction right now:
http://www.pbase.com/image/62009584.jpg

For a city with 195,000 (Metro 540,000)...I think we are doing very well Downtown. I can't wait to see it when it hits one million people.

Here's three more that I took in September...

From the east bank of the Des Moines River...
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/2006septdsmskylinea.jpg
View from 10th and Mulberry (Wells Fargo Financial Headquarters):
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/2006septdsmskylineb.jpg
Newest addition to the Wells Fargo Financial Headquarters (opens officially in December):
http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Other/2006septdsmwellsfargoa.jpg

des moines has great skyline...the tallest bldg there I like alot

Not bad for Des Moines -> 7/10

Here are some more shots of this beautiful skyline!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/39/96793337_54209c8e1d_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/280177581_bcb16a76c9_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/83/206024173_6488818257_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/67/165527381_6fdbecbfcd_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/63/206024339_c43a584274_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/67/206028797_a402ef3dec_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/88/206024430_0e6167d98a_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/75/206024089_0b2ae743ed_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/89/206023973_03370af1b0_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/104/281639806_84baf96a17_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/84/206028937_15f6936783_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/171/363656062_64dce8f150_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/369864367_17cb4714a4_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/369218800_c556940cee_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/369218114_bf6bf2e19f_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/133042452_6d56fc6e8b_b.jpg

up-close 801 Grand
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/135092049_b2fa54bd91.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/92/282747851_9a44dd07df_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/97/239234423_d3399db52f_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/82/281618192_26227e4123_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/74/206029753_c399bf4a01_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/145118494_dbf48399c5_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/86/206023680_9ac2c1ce55_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/68/206023581_4e68b4e7a4_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/62/206023457_5bd94ccc30_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/71/206023059_ba966ed530_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/64/206020610_7274a61878_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/206020408_289ef4f6ef_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/60/206020280_4dc6fa5139_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/35/71966571_053887276a_b.jpg

Des Moines' first skyscraper, The Equitable Building
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/79/209413700_03d7bb7218_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/69/206021703_848d37c69e_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/78727707_6715b64f4f.jpg

this skyline is twice as good as my citys, yet we have twice as many people.:bash: I gave it a 9.5 for that fact alone.

better i don't rate it

you've learned....finally!!!! Anyway, I think the skyline is amazing for a city it's size and I think it looks great...9/10

I haven't followed this thread for several months and I must say I missed on many nice pics!!! I rate Des Moines skyline very high, particularly when considering the population of the city. I also see room for additional growth, which is crucial to the future of the downtown area. Keep the photos coming ;)

I GIVE DES MOINES A 8.5.

NOT THE BEST BUT ALSO NOT REALLY DOWN THERE!

CHICAGO 10
NEW YORK 10
DES MOINES...

I gave it a 10 just because so many people rated it 3 or lower...

That would be ferguz and his other accounts.

9, I like it.

7/10

10/10 AWESOME!

For a city of 200k, I'm impressed !

We also have a metro area... not just the city of 200k. With the metro we're more like 520k.

looks good, 7.5/10

For the small size, it's very impressive.

8/10 very nice...looks like Iowa struck gold with great buildings!!!

7/10

9.0/10 It's a great skyline considering the population.

8/10

very nice skyline for such a small city!

7/10

nice cluster for a small city

8

8/10 one of the best skyline in the world for a population of that size

8/10. Very very suprising.

7.5/10

7/10

7,5/10 I like it!

i have no choice but to give des moines. 10/10

5/10

7/10

7/10

9/10

7/10

8/10

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/3140314542_62070c1b26_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/don3rdse/3140314542/)

by Don3rdSE (http://www.flickr.com/photos/don3rdse/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3658/3318314154_cfd344a1f8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21655952@N07/3318314154/)

by DMIA JAYHAWK (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21655952@N07/)

9/10 very nice

nothing special here.its ok. 6.5

8/10

I moved to Iowa City from Los Angeles... and when I first saw the Des Moines skyline off the interstate I was blown away considering the size of the city... given that Des Moines is a major center for insurance companies I would expect more mid rise or even high rises in the next 5-10 years to fill out that skyline... not a skyline you would expect from Iowa but no one's complaining about that :)

I gave it a 9/10...

looks like a peaceful city. 8/10

8/10

Rather short skyline

5/10

5/10

8/10

9/10

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3624/3684772925_713e479eb3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jr_early/3684772925/)

by J.R.Early (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jr_early/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2729942367_d48b6932a3_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/2729942367/in/set-72157607965589617/)

by Justin Hardecopf (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/3699516225_33c7f474ec_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/3699516225/)

by Justin Hardecopf (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3699439417_7f9fdf244e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/3699439417/in/set-72157607965589617/)

by Justin Hardecopf (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3522/3700249168_c09919906d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/3700249168/in/set-72157607965589617/)

by Justin Hardecopf (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3484/3700248850_b676e023c1_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/3700248850/in/set-72157607965589617/)

by Justin Hardecopf (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2636331725_e58d58bb19_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/2636331725/in/set-72157607965589617/)

by Justin Hardecopf (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhardecopf/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3466/3297996251_1054b28065_o.gif (http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelglenn1957/3297996251/)

by michaelglenn1957 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelglenn1957/)

6.5/10 a marvelous panorama of city and countryside

9. Very good skyline. Regards.

One of the best in the midwest and one of best skylines of any state capital!!! The skyline is very impressive for a city its size. 9.5/10

voted 7.5/10

6,5/10

6. Okay skyline. Regardless

7.5/10
nice city but not too massive

wow slipknot is from here

Classic Mid American skyline. 7

8/10

Small, yet nicely structured skyline - 7.5/10

A 6.5.some buildings realy need some renovation.
I like the highest tower.

6/10

7/10

10/10

This city's skyline is awesome for it's population!----8/10

http://s006.radikal.ru/i214/1001/e6/2e0a346cb23b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3670146992_4353124e93_b_d.jpg

6/10.

5/10

7/10

7/10. I like it :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2407/5756403199_b182aa47ff_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/clearskyphotography/5756403199/)
Des Moines Skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/clearskyphotography/5756403199/) by clearskyphotography.com - Kris Klop (http://www.flickr.com/people/clearskyphotography/), on Flickr

The central tower looks a little messeturm lol

Edit.

9/10. 801 Grand is a bit too off to the side of downtown to make the skyline nicely balanced, but considering it has a better skyline than some cities 5 times its size and a gorgeous state capital not shown in the pics, this skyline should be admired.

Considering it's relatively small size I would say it's pretty damn good in height, balance, and density.
7.5

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5980694241_432c923e15_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/w4nd3rl0st/5980694241/)
Des Moines Aerial - Looking South (http://www.flickr.com/photos/w4nd3rl0st/5980694241/) by InspiredinDesMoines (http://www.flickr.com/people/w4nd3rl0st/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6410764659_7a131eca8d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/11810228@N06/6410764659/)
IMG_0111_filtered_DxO_1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/11810228@N06/6410764659/) by nolte1964 (http://www.flickr.com/people/11810228@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6150/6207967149_448051e07a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hessepov/6207967149/)
Des Moines Skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hessepov/6207967149/) by sfcfront (http://www.flickr.com/people/hessepov/), on Flickr

Probably the best skyline in the world relative to population. It's spectacular that it can have such a huge skyline with 200,000 people and under 600,000 in the metro. An anomaly in modern society!

10

Des Moines is cool. Generally a good skyline but the tallest tower looks a little out of place and it could stand to have some infill. 7.5

6/10

One of the most under-seen skylines in the country.

http://www.desmoines.org/images/DesMoinesSkyline.jpg
(desmoines.org)

http://hopkinsandhuebner.com/presents/hopkinsandhuebner/designs/default/101010/images/Des-Moines-skyline.jpg
(hopkinsandhuebner.com)

Don3rdSE on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/don3rdse/3449039928/)
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3351/3449039928_9599799151_b.jpg

And yes, the S'es are silent.

^^ I completely agree. To me this is the best skyline in the world for a metro of its size. It's such a small metro with such a powerful skyline!