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Origin’s Dubuque Office Relocates

Dubuque, IA—Origin Design relocated its Dubuque office and corporate headquarters from Dubuque’s West End to Lower Main.

With an eye on attracting and retaining clients & employees and increasing their brand exposure, Origin leadership selected The Platinum Building at 137 Main Street as the new location for their Dubuque office. 

“After evaluating our current location, and considering many others, we felt that The Platinum Building was the best overall fit for our staff, and it’s conveniently located for many of our clients in the area,” said Pat Ready, PE, President & CEO of Origin Design.

The five-story Platinum Building is an iconic building in Dubuque’s historic downtown. Built in 1906, the Renaissance Revival Architectural Style building has had many renovations and tenants over the years. 

Previously headquartered on Pennsylvania Avenue, Origin Design now occupies most of 1st floor, and all of 2nd and 3rd floors at the Main Street location. Origin shares the building with Platinum Supplemental Insurance, who occupies the 4th and 5th floors of the iconic structure.

Prior to moving in, the space was partially remodeled with the majority of the work performed on first floor, including construction of a corridor, removal of some walls and the addition of a conference room and large community room. 

“ We wanted to create a collaborative, creative space for our employees and clients. The Platinum Building’s Lower Main location has also been great for our rebrand and name change from IIW to Origin Design. ”

Pat Ready, PE President & CEO

WORKING ON TOMORROW

Follow our journey.

Employee owned since 1999.

This Sunday, April 26, marks the anniversary of Origin Design becoming an ESOP. Recently, a few members of our team attended the NCEO Conference in Milwaukee, where we deepened our understanding of ESOP culture, leadership, sustainability, and employee engagement.

At Origin Design, employee ownership means more than a retirement benefit. It means building sustainable wealth, fostering leadership at every level, and investing in shared long term success.

Today we are celebrating Administrative Professionals Day with five outstanding individuals who support our teams and keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Your organization, professionalism, and teamwork make a meaningful impact every day. Thank you for all that you do!

Mary Abbott, Senior Design Technician, and Tasha Vondal, Project Support Specialist, have spent the past year working closely on DOT funded projects. Mary has shared her 40 years of expertise in contract administration, guiding Tasha through every phase of the process, from project setup and bidding, to construction administration, payments, and change orders. This collaboration reflects our commitment to mentorship, teamwork, and delivering consistent, high-quality solutions for our clients.

As National Architecture Week comes to a close, we asked our team to reflect on the projects that inspired growth, learning, and collaboration. We’re grateful for the challenges that push us forward, the lessons that shape our work, and most importantly, the people who bring every project to life.

Today we’re proud to recognize our Architectural team in the Quad Cities and Waterloo/Cedar Falls areas! Their collaboration and problem-solving skills help transform ideas into spaces that serve communities across the region.

Happy National Architecture Week!

This week we’re recognizing our Architectural team starting with our Dubuque Office. Their insight and dedication to thoughtful design help shape spaces that support the people and communities we serve.

Please join us in welcoming Hannah Bakey to Origin Design!

Hannah recently joined our team as a Marketing Coordinator, where she’ll support proposals, marketing materials, social media, and more to help promote our services and brand. We’re excited to have her on board. Welcome to the #origincrew, Hannah!

We were excited to welcome some special visitors today from Junior Achievement of the Heartland as we celebrate JA Day! From volunteering in classrooms to bowl-a-thons and giving back, we’re proud supporters of Junior Achievement and the impact it has on our community. Community is one of our core values, and supporting the next generation is one way we bring it to life.

We’re proud to recognize Laurie Wehrspann, who was nominated for Women's Leadership Network of Dubuque Women of Achievement Awards.

For almost 35 years, Laurie has been a steady, behind-the-scenes force at Origin Design. As our accounting assistant, her dedication, precision, and institutional knowledge are integral to our day-to-day operations and long-term success. Her commitment and quiet impact do not go unnoticed.

Congratulations, Laurie, on this well-earned recognition, and thank you for all you continue to do.

Happy National Surveyors Week to the professionals who lay the groundwork for everything we build.

Our surveyors are often the first on-site, gathering the critical data that drives informed planning, design, and construction. Their precision enables safer, smarter, and more sustainable communities. A huge thank you to our incredible team for the accuracy, dedication, and innovation they bring to every project.

A major infrastructure upgrade is taking shape in Oelwein, IA. Origin Design’s team designed the new 10th St. SW replacement bridge, now under construction by Taylor Construction. For this Field Trip Friday, crews were setting 97-foot-long, 31 ton pretensioned prestressed concrete beams into place.


International Women’s Day reminds us that progress is driven by diverse perspectives. We’re proud to recognize the women of Origin Design whose skill, vision, and leadership strengthen our culture, our projects, and our future.

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