Community Interests

Part of the heartland

Ruan has always been proud to be a part of Iowa. Our families are here; many of our customers are here; our history is here.

And because we believe so strongly that a company must do more than simply exist in a community, Ruan has ensured that our future remains in Iowa as well.

We did that by betting early and betting heavily on Des Moines. At a time when companies were fleeing for the suburbs and the city was showing its age, Ruan built the 36-story Ruan Center and Ruan Two. Soon after that, Ruan was the lead investor in the 420-room Marriott Hotel located across the street. A skywalk, originally meant only to connect our corporate campus to the hotel, has grown into one of the country’s largest downtown skywalk systems.

Our leadership changed the face of the city and spurred an economic renaissance, urban beautification, and a boom in downtown housing. To this day, the revitalization of downtown Des Moines continues to spread far beyond where it started. And Ruan, and the family of John Ruan III, continues to lead the effort.