Meet Scotney Fenton, AIA

I'm Scotney Fenton — architect, historical architect, and founder of 1245 Design PLLC. For over 30 years, I've helped owners, agencies, and communities understand, protect, and adapt their most significant buildings. From the Iowa State Capitol to a humble log cabin, my work spans the full range of preservation practice: research, investigation, documentation, design, and construction contract administration.

I founded 1245 Design to bring that depth of experience directly to clients who need clear, practical guidance on historic buildings — without the overhead of a large firm and without the guesswork that too often surrounds preservation projects.

Credentials That Matter

Licensed Architect, Dual-Qualified Preservation Professional

I hold architecture licenses in Iowa and Maryland, and meet the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards in both Architecture and Historic Architecture — the federal benchmark established under 36 CFR Part 61 that defines minimum qualifications for professionals working on historic preservation projects. That combination allows me to bring licensed architectural judgment and qualified preservation expertise to projects involving historic buildings, helping streamline documentation, review coordination, and treatment decisions where the project scope and jurisdiction align.

Professional Affiliations and Service

  • American Institute of Architects (AIA), member

  • Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), Central Iowa Chapter, Board Member

  • Iowa Architectural Foundation, Former Board Member and Current Tour Volunteer

  • Des Moines Historic Preservation Commission, Former Vice Chair (2003–2023)

  • Certified Remote Drone Pilot, FAA

My long service on the Des Moines Historic Preservation Commission, including as former Vice Chair (2003–2023), gave me a front-row seat to the regulatory process from the reviewing side. I understand what reviewers need because I've been one.

A Different Kind of Preservation Practice

Most preservation consultants produce reports. Most architects produce drawings. 1245 Design does both — and the space where they overlap is where projects succeed or stall.

My approach blends high-end preservation expertise with practical, risk-reducing consulting. That means every Historic Structure Report, conditions survey, and National Register nomination we produce is written not just to satisfy regulatory requirements, but to give owners and project teams actionable information they can use to make decisions, control costs, and keep projects moving.

I've spent three decades taking projects from preliminary assessment through construction administration. I know what happens after the report is delivered — the value engineering, the contractor questions, the review comments, the change orders. That experience shapes every document we produce, so that when your team picks it up, it works in the real world, not just on paper.

Building on Three Decades of Iowa Landmarks

Before founding 1245 Design, I spent 30 years as an architect, project manager, and market leader at a large multi-disciplinary design firm in Des Moines, leading preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse projects and teams across Iowa and the Midwest. Representative work includes:

  • Iowa State Capitol, Des Moines — Multi-phase preservation and rehabilitation of Iowa's most significant civic landmark, encompassing interior and exterior restoration, masonry repair, copper roofing, historic finishes, and building systems upgrades.

  • World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, Des Moines — Historic rehabilitation of a nationally significant landmark, achieving LEED Platinum certification while balancing preservation goals with modern performance standards.

  • Harbach Lofts, Des Moines — Historic rehabilitation tax credit project utilizing the adaptive reuse of historic industrial buildings into multifamily housing, demonstrating how preservation can drive community-focused revitalization.

Committed to Iowa and Beyond

Based in Des Moines, 1245 Design serves clients across Iowa and throughout the Midwest. Our work with municipal governments, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private developers has given us a deep understanding of the funding mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and community dynamics that shape preservation projects in this region.

I believe historic buildings are not obstacles to progress — they are the foundation of it. Every Main Street revitalization, every adapted warehouse, every restored landmark strengthens the community around it. My job is to give you the documentation, analysis, and confidence to move those projects forward.

Education

  • Master of Architecture, Ball State University (1993), with focused study in Historic Preservation

  • Bachelor of Architecture, Iowa State University (1992)

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