Team

About Diane

Diane is a self-driven, dedicated licensed Architect with 27+ years of experience.  She has been leading design and management of Healthcare, Religious, and Animal related projects for nearly 20 years.  She has a vast knowledge in many additional project sectors including dental clinics, offices, restoration, restaurants, hospitality, education, and more where she strives to design spaces that meet the owner’s universal goals of the project while collaboratively showcasing user cultures.  Diane has strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills with proven abilities to manage multiple projects and junior staff at once all while staying on schedule and budget.  This holds true for both the building architecture and the interiors of the spaces, as she is also well versed in interior design applications and concepts providing the ability to mesh the architecture with interiors.

When did you know you wanted to be an architect?

Growing up my Dad was a manager for a box board company where they made cardboard boxes and other paper products. One of the company’s clients was Mead and the company made their pocket folders.  When the folders didn’t meet the quality control checks, instead of throwing them away, my Dad would bring all sorts of them home for me to use for school or other things. I was a pretty stereotypical little girl who had Barbies and I always wanted one of the fun store-bought 3-level Barbie houses with the elevator, but never had one.  Instead, I found ways to improvise and one of those was to take those folders and any boxes that my Dad brought home to design and build large elaborate Barbie houses.  They would be reconfigured every so often and covered anywhere from 50 – 150 sf of our basement.  The folders made for great walls and the boxes allowed for various levels.  One day when I was probably 10, my brother suggested I should look at becoming an Architect due to the folder and box houses I would make and it just stuck.  I may not have ever been given one of those cool store-bought houses, but the folders my Dad would bring home turned into so much more.

What is one of your favorite quotes and why?

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. – Wayne Gretzky

There are so many things in life that would be “what if” regrets if you don’t take a chance on the unknown.  As much as staying in the comfort of what you know is great, it doesn’t allow you to experience new adventures, and you may find that unknown to be the most rewarding adventure you have ever had.  If we just drew vanilla boxes, how interesting would our surroundings be? It just takes a vision and sometimes a little push to think outside of the box for one to realize if you take a chance that box can be so much more.  It’s okay to take a shot at a new idea, new experience, or something different as you’ll be able to see what beauty can come from it.

Joined SVPA Architects

February 2026

Education

Iowa State University, Bachelor of Architecture, 1998

Minor; Housing & the Near Environment

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Architects

Registrations

Licensed Architect: Iowa

NCARB Certified

Community Involvement

Lutheran Church of Hope; Design Coordinator & Youth Group Leader Volunteer

Des Moines Youth Hockey Association; Social Media Committee + 2025/26 PeeWee Blue Team Manager

BSA Troop 208; Social Media & Marketing Lead + Past Fundraising Committee

WDM Lacrosse Club; Past Board Member + Social Media Lead

Notable Project Experience

• UnityPoint Clinics (numerous projects & specialties) – Multiple Locations
• Blank Children’s Hospital Outpatient Therapy – Multiple Locations
• Innovative Radiology – West Des Moines, IA
• Total Health Experience Master Planning – Urbandale, IA
• The Dental Studio of Iowa – Johnston, IA
• Peddicord Dental Clinic – Ankeny, IA
• Animal Rescue League of Iowa – Des Moines, IA
• ARL Second Chance Ranch – Des Moines, IA
• Dogwoods Lodge – Grimes, IA
• Companion Animal Clinic & Boarding – Cedar Falls, IA
• Lutheran Church of Hope (remodels & restorations) – Multiple locations
• Minburn Train Depot Historic Preservation – Minburn, IA