In 2006, seeking to revitalize downtown Council Bluffs, the Iowa West Foundation invited Artspace to explore the feasibility of transforming a former International Harvester Warehouse into an affordable live/work project for artists. Built in 1888, the Harvester is a four-story building with approximately 47,000 square feet in the main structure and an additional 24,000 square feet in a spacious one-story addition that dates from 1928.

This sturdy brick structure has found new life as the Harvester Artist Lofts, a 36-unit project that also provides 5,320 square feet of space for arts-friendly commercial use, including a guitar studio, florist and several artist studios/shops. Since its completion in 2010, the Harvester has become a welcome addition to the area’s arts scene. The Harvester is part of the newly named Arts & Culture District including several other cultural destinations nearby such as the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, UP Museum, Railswest Museum and the Squirrel Cage Jail.