An architect wearing a white hard hat and a neon safety vest is examining stone masonry on a building wall outside.

1245 Design PLLC provides historic preservation consulting and architectural expertise for project teams evaluating, rehabilitating, adapting, and reinvesting in vintage and historic buildings.

Historic buildings don't reward guesswork.

Every historic structure carries layers of unknowns — hidden conditions, regulatory requirements, and the cost of decisions that can't easily be undone.

1245 Design PLLC reduces that risk with the documentation, analysis, and standards-based guidance that owners, developers, and agencies need to move forward with confidence.

Based in Des Moines, Iowa. Serving clients across the Midwest and beyond.

What We Do

I'm Scotney Fenton, AIA — a licensed architect who meets the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards in Architecture and Historic Architecture, with over 30 years of experience on landmark buildings across Iowa and the Midwest.

We help clients understand what they have, what it means, and what to do about it before major design or construction dollars are committed.

Historic Structure Reports

Historic research, physical investigation, and treatment recommendations are combined into a single planning document that guides rehabilitation, restoration, or adaptive reuse before construction begins.

Existing-Building Conditions Surveys

Systematic on-site inspection that documents the current physical state of a building's structure, envelope, systems, and finishes — identifying deficiencies and maintenance priorities before they become costly surprises.

National Register Nominations

Formal documentation packages that establish a property's historic significance and guide it through the applicable SHPO and National Park Service review process for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Why it Matters

The difference between a successful historic project and a stalled one usually comes down to what you knew before you started. Our reports and surveys give you the factual baseline that helps you:

  • Pursue historic tax credits and grant funding with the right documentation in hand

  • Avoid costly mid-construction surprises and scope creep

  • Navigate SHPO and National Park Service review with confidence

  • Make defensible decisions that satisfy lenders, reviewers, and stakeholders

  • Preserve what matters historically while adapting buildings for modern use

Start With a Conversation

Not sure which service you need — or whether you need one at all? We offer an initial triage memo or feasibility study: a focused, low-commitment first step that clarifies your building's needs and identifies the right path forward.

Whether you're evaluating a property for purchase, preparing a tax credit application, or trying to understand what a historic building can become, the right time to bring in a preservation specialist is before the unknowns become costs.

Who We Support

  • Architecture and engineering firms

  • Property owners

  • Developers

  • Contractors/construction managers

  • Municipalities

  • Nonprofits

  • Institutions

An architect is kneeling on the sidewalk, using his right hand to feel and examine a cracked concrete surface. He is holding a clipboard with his left arm. The background shows a grassy area and part of a stone structure.
A man in a navy jacket is holding a pen, standing near a reddish brick wall with peeling paint. The ceiling or structure above is made of metal beams and part of an ornate, rusted metal decorative bracket. The man is wearing sunglasses and has short hair.

How We Add Value

  • Reduce unknown conditions

  • Clarify repair priorities

  • Support viable reuse

  • Preserve character defining features

  • Guide practical decisions

Interior of a building under construction with exposed wooden beams, brickwork, a ladder, and construction light. Part of a person wearing a dark shirt and cap is visible in the bottom right corner.

Credentials

  • Iowa-Licensed Architect

  • Secretary of the Interior-Qualified Architect and Historic Architect

  • 30+ Years of Experience