116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Shuttleworth & Ingersoll moving into former Gazette building in downtown Cedar Rapids
Developer Steve Emerson is undertaking $6.3 million remodeling
Editor’s note: The subheadline has been edited to reflect that Steve Emerson is undertaking the renovation
CEDAR RAPIDS — The downtown building that formerly housed The Gazette is undergoing a $6.3 million remodeling to become the new offices of the Shuttleworth & Ingersoll law firm.
The Cedar Rapids City Council this week awarded financial incentives for the property at 500 Third Ave. SE, which is owned by developer Steve Emerson.
The Gazette office was in the building for nearly 95 years before moving to 116 Third St. SE in August 2020, its fifth downtown location since the newspaper was founded in 1883.
The Shuttleworth & Ingersoll office is now in the U.S. Bank building, 115 Third St. SE. Its Cedar Rapids employees will move to newly remodeled building in the second half of 2024, the law firm’s President Brian Bergstrom told The Gazette. The firm also has offices in Coralville, Waterloo and Nashua.
“Our current Cedar Rapids office has served us well for many years,” Bergstrom said. “This new location will allow us to stay current from a technological standpoint. It will accommodate our growth, it will enhance our collaborative, team-based culture.”
Shuttleworth & Ingersoll employs about 110 people in its four offices, Bergstrom said. Initially, 90 will be based in the Cedar Rapids office, with room for growth. Of those 90, 45 are attorneys.
“We’re enthused about the new space and about a new location for our downtown Cedar Rapids office,” Bergstrom said.
The 16,400-square-foot commercial building will be renovated and another 9,100 square added, bringing its total size to 25,500 square feet. A rooftop plaza will be added and the exterior will be renovated.
Incentives tied to sustainability
The project was awarded city financial incentives under the Green Building Economic Development Program as it will achieve LEED certification, a measure of its sustainability and energy efficiency.
Cedar Rapids is to reimburse the increased taxes generated by the project to cover the increased costs associated with achieving LEED certification, up to a 10-year, 100 percent reimbursement.
In downtown Cedar Rapids, office space has emptied out as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic — challenging city leaders who are in the process of refreshing a downtown vision plan.
With work-from-home changes lingering among major employers, the presence of fewer workers downtown has left businesses short on their pre-pandemic daytime traffic.
Bergstrom said this new space will keep the firm’s physical presence downtown while helping meet the firm’s current and future needs.
“We want to see downtown Cedar Rapids thrive, continue to evolve in a positive direction, so we're excited to be involved in helping repurpose a downtown building,” Bergstrom said.
Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com
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