One of Iowa's most spectacular venues, the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates offers a magnificent setting for any occasion. We book only one event at a time so that you and your guests can enjoy the building exclusively during your gathering. This historic building in the heart of Des Moines radiates a rich history with every modern amenity necessary for your event. The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates has three exclusive caterers for your event that you are welcome to pick from. With your rental fee, your guests have access to all the public spaces in the Hall of Laureates including the Borlaug Ballroom, Ruan Laureates room, Iowa Gallery as well as the Des Moines Mural Room, featuring the historic WPA murals that have been restored. There is certainly a lot to see in the Hall of Laureates and each room and space has its own identity and purpose. Plus the gardens would also be available to you and your guests to walk through; the gardens are a great location for photos to be taken. Designed by the nationally recognized Hoerr Schaudt landscape architect, the World Food Prize garden is an integral feature of the Principal Riverwalk. By adding green space to downtown, this urban oasis has helped to make Des Moines one of the most vibrant cities in America in terms of public art and architecture. Guests can view the inlaid world map, the grand fountain, as well as prominent statues of Dr. Norman Borlaug and John Ruan Sr. The garden is available for your use. Now, join us, and descend down the grand staircase to find inspiration in the beautiful artwork and architecture in every room.

The Borlaug Ballroom is the single largest room in the Hall of Laureates and the space that is most transformed, located on the south side of the Rotunda. In the original library design, this area served as the Stacks Room and was actually a two-story space, separated with a glass floor and completely filled with bookcases. The room was a plain, utilitarian space. The original design can still be seen, as one part of the glass floor has been preserved as a balcony. The historic placement of the bookcases is marked in the new wood floors with a diagonal woodgrain pattern, suggesting their original location. This storage area has now been transformed into an elegant gathering space honoring Dr. Borlaug. Events larger than 256 can utilize the Rotunda and the Ruan Laureates Room on the same level for additional guest seating.

The Ruan Laureates Room tells stories centered about the World Food Prize and the history of agriculture. A stained glass globe illustrates 12 areas where food production and agriculture originated. In the alcove, each of the 51 World Food Prize Laureates are represented by an engraved plaque.

The Rotunda, in which all visitors enter, holds a stained glass window that depicts a harvest family, grain sculptures, and lunette murals tracing Dr. Borlaug's life. The rotunda also contains the building's original 1903 stained-glass skylight, and quotes around the four sides of the rotunda that pertain to the purpose of the World Food Prize. It is the perfect place for your cocktail hour.