AWS emerged in the summer of 1991 from the ideas, experience and entrepreneurial drive of Mike Cunningham. After 17 years of selling building products, Mike developed a close bond with both the Architectural and Building community which gave him a clear understanding of what services could be improved upon. Mike had the idea of becoming a specialty wall contractor that would handle all aspects of the building facade: a single-source-contractor, that could manage all aspects of product integration and project management. From this concept he started AWS and began providing state of the art technology such as pressure equalized rain screens, thermally superior framing systems and spectrally selective glass products.

The nineties were expansive years for AWS. As product interface, technology and safety issues gained momentum in the industry, AWS committed itself to mastering these areas and within a few years, AWS was emerging as a technology driven, single source exterior wall contractor that could provide it's own trained workforce.

With a renaissance of cultural and community growth brimming in downtown Des Moines, AWS was positioned to provide its services to the upcoming surge of new construction that was about to take place. With companies like Wells Fargo, EMC and Allied expanding their headquarters, AWS' opportunities for growth were unlimited. The momentum of these projects allowed us to build a strong team of managers and field craftsmen that understood the technology and solutions being used.

Soon, AWS began building it's engineering team so it could offer it's own custom manufactured systems. Armed with the experience and the team needed to take on the tasks, AWS began marketing it's own window, storefront and curtain wall systems. Plentiful manufacturing space, combined with global manufacturing connections, enabled AWS to enter the market of producing custom curtain wall systems at a competitive price. Midway through the first decade of 2000, AWS had completed custom projects for David Chipperfield, Steven Holl and I.M. Pei to name a few.

With a solid team of professionals, a world class safety program and the ability to provide custom systems, the stage was set for AWS to provide it's services on a national level and that's exactly where we are today. Having grown carefully and steadily, AWS has hand picked and trained every one of it's project managers and field foremen. Twenty years of investments in safety, product technology, engineering and manufacturing have allowed us to provide custom systems on both a local a national level. Recently completed projects such as the Kansas City Sprint Center and the New Jersey New Meadowlands Stadium, are a testament of AWS' ability to provide a single source of responsibility with state of the art technology, management and products.

AWS has completed projects all over the U.S. Including Alaska, California, New Jersey and Hawaii. We have won numerous AIA Awards for Craftsmanship and several local and National Safety Awards. Mike Cunningham continues to promote AWS' facade solutions to the construction and architectural industries in an effort to bring the highest level of technology and service to each project we build.