The renovation and expansion of an iconic white mansion that overlooks Gray’s Lake and downtown Des Moines is expected to begin this summer with much of the work completed by fall 2026. Members of the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa have spent more than two years planning and raising money for the center at 2633 Fleur Drive in Des Moines. The Art Deco-style structure is locally known as the Butler Mansion.

Improvements and additions to the original mansion and its expansions are estimated at $20 million. The group has raised about $11 million, from a mix of both public and private dollars, said Jeff Lamberti, chairman of the center’s board of governors.