On a sunny spring day when the trees are blossoming, or on a crisp fall morning when a hot cup of coffee feels especially satisfying, there’s no place more lively on Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences’ campus than The Plaza.
Decked out with dozens of tables, chairs and benches, the space invites students to study alongside peers, eat lunch or simply decompress. It’s as much a gathering place as it is a spot to pause, take a breath and, quite literally, smell the flowers. You might even spot students playing a quick game of hacky sack or dancing to salsa music during an Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs event.
To the east of The Plaza is the Pioneers of Osteopathic Medicine tribute on the Edge of Advancement building, which honors distinguished alumni and faculty whose contributions to medical science and public service have made a profound impact.
The Plaza also reflects the site’s natural history, where water from melting glaciers once collected. It’s evident in the brickwork of the sidewalk, which emulates the flow of the ancient water, and the landscaping, where large limestone rocks are arranged to evoke the natural movement of glacier melt.
The area also carries a piece of “home” with it. “The Gathering,” a bronze sculpture by Charles Strain, pictured below, commissioned by Fredric Gold, DO’73, sits at the center of The Plaza. Gifted to DMU by Gold in 2018, the sculpture previously stood in front of the Student Education Center at what has become the DMU32 Health and Business Complex(opens in new tab).
“It is my hope that the emotional impact of this sculpture will inspire others to see it as an icon of what DMU represents to itself and the community,” Gold said when gifting it. “As DMU’s three colleges train future leaders in medicine and the health sciences, it is also important to recognize the culture of support and togetherness the campus is known to promote.”
Indeed, those words still ring true today, reflected in the peace and sense of community found throughout The Plaza.