The Grand View University Student (GVU) Center is the hub of student experience beyond the classroom.  It houses the Bookstore, Student Life offices, including student government, clubs and organizations, counseling services, multicultural programs, the Career Center, academic advising, the Academic Enrichment Center, and Campus Services.  The first floor also houses offices and workspaces for the speech and theater program and the Viking Theatre, as well as the classrooms, studios and offices of the GVU Communication department, in addition to student lounges and recreation areas. The second floor of the Student Center is devoted to dining for students, faculty, staff, and visitors, with a lounge area adjacent to the skywalk.

The project also included a 156-foot skywalk over East 14th Street (Highway 69) connecting the Student Center to the Rasmussen Center for Community Advancement Professions. This skywalk is the longest freestanding skywalk in the city of Des Moines.

Baker Group provided a complete design-build HVAC and plumbing package with both student comfort and GVU’s energy efficiency goals in mind.  The construction of this project boasts over 20,000 CFM of kitchen hood exhaust that is needed to serve the 400+ seats in the dining area. 

Baker Group also provided unique HVAC solutions to a building that has many different functions under one roof, including; Kitchen/Servery, Offices, Student Lounge, TV Studio, & Presentation Hall to name a few.