As an interior designer with RDG Planning & Design in Des Moines, Collin (Ramsey) Barnes strives to create high-performing, environmentally responsible, healthy environments for corporate and educational clients throughout Iowa and the nation.

 

Her passions for sustainability and wellness were nurtured at Iowa State. Her senior-year studio class identified sustainable design strategies for the College of Design's King Pavilion addition to help it achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification.

 

 

"After getting married in 2008, we decided to move back to be closer to family. Now that we have two young kids (Truman and Darby), we're thrilled to have lots of family nearby," Collin said.

 

Collin also found a home with RDG, where she is now the corporate focus market leader -- identifying growth opportunities, preparing business development plans, building relationships, and promoting the firm to increase its reach and enhance its recognition.

 

"RDG has been a great place to work because of the diversity and depth of our portfolio," she said. "I love having the opportunity to work on a variety of project types all over the country."

 

Collin is proud of her contributions to the award-winning American Institute of Architects Iowa office design in Des Moines, the first and only LEED for Commercial Interiors Platinum-certified project in Iowa. She is also proud of work on the Economic Development Core Facility under construction at the ISU Research Park in Ames, a project that "embraced innovation" and "implemented some cutting-edge space-planning concepts and beautifully refined interior finishes," she said. "I'm excited to see it completed later this year."

 

Collin shares her expertise and enthusiasm as a member of the ISU Interior Design Advisory Council and the International Interior Design Association Great Plains Chapter, where she serves as vice president of student affairs and works with active student chapters at Iowa State and other institutions in Nebraska and Iowa.

 

"I really value the opportunity to connect with the students at Iowa State -- their creativity is contagious and reinvigorates my drive for design. I also appreciate being able to share my professional insights with the faculty to ensure that the students are graduating with skill sets applicable to jobs in the industry," Collin said.