David Chipperfield believes the role of an architect goes far beyond working with partners to bring a project in on time and on budget – he crafts designs with an expectation of cultural leadership. As principal of the multicultural, international firm David Chipperfield Architects based in London, Berlin and Shanghai, his core design philosophy is to provide architecture that responds to its environment. An experienced lecturer who has taught architecture on both sides of the Atlantic, Chipperfield’s first commissions in the United States were both in Iowa: the Figge Art Museum in Davenport and the new downtown Des Moines Public Library. His firm has won more than 20 national and international competitions and awards for design excellence and in 2004, he was appointed to the Order of the British Empire for services to architecture.

The grand opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting for the Des Moines Public Library will be Saturday, April 8, 2006, at 10 a.m. at 1000 Grand Avenue.

David Chipperfield: Selected Civic Projects, a print gallery exhibition, is on display now through May 7 at the Des Moines Art Center.