Suburban to Urban Office Relocation: The Future in St. Louis?

While many companies have remained committed to Downtown, such as Stifel Nicolaus, Wells Fargo Advisors, etc, will we begin to see more relocation from the suburbs to the CBD, like Shipworks did a few years ago? This is clearly a trend in other cities.
A friend of mine recently left a large company in St. Charles because he no longer wanted to commute from the city all the way to the exurbs.  Perhaps companies like RGA, who's currently building a new campus in Chesterfield, will begin to consider building in the urban core of the city, where young people clearly want to work.  

Companies Say Goodbye to the 'Burbs

Young Talent Wants to Live in Chicago, Not Libertyville; Dilemma for Older Workers

http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702304281004579222442197428538-lMyQjAxMTAzMDAwNTEwNDUyWj

301 N. Memorial - Renovation of former Peabody Coal HQ

The building at 301 N. Memorial was built for Peabody Coal (Peabody Energy) in 1957.  They vacated the building in 2005 and it has remained vacant until last December when it was purchased by ICC Engineering.  www.iccinc.net   They are currently working on a complete gut-rehab of the property.  I have two floors of office space (24,000 square feet) available for lease (1st and 2nd floors).  So, this is a complete shameless self-promotion, but this building will offer a creative or traditional firm a very cool office space and location downtown, across from the soon to be updated Arch grounds.
Included are a few renderings of the planned renovations.

                                                                         historic photo

                                                          rooftop rendering includes bar, fire pit

east view of Arch grounds- soon to be updated

                                     

game room and cafe

building today

Fox Architects - Emerson HQ campus

 Fox Architects www.fox-arch.com:

Emerson’s Building AA was originally constructed as 2 floors underground and 4 floors above ground, with the first and second floors initially intended for storage only.  The Second Floor housed Emerson’s data center, occupying most of the west portion of the floorplate, until that function moved out in 2009.

As the corporation has grown, demand for office space within the corporate headquarters has increased.  Emerson asked Fox to study ways to make this floor function effectively for Corporate staff --  the solution involved excavating along the west side of the building and exposing the second floor foundation.  This west wall was surgically removed and glass and steel framing now infill the opening.  Fox re-worked the mechanical systems and lighting to increase the ceiling height, thereby maximizing the daylight penetrating into the space. 

New stone faced retaining walls were added.  The rusticated face and curving sweep of these walls are designed to contrast with the orthogonal geometry of the original Miesian building.

Sam Fentress Photographer 

Savvis, a CenturyLink Company - The Hub

A collaboration between Jake Strelow (studiostrelow.com) of Switch Design and Fox Architects (www.fox-arch.com) recently completed a project for Centurylink (Savvis) – called the “HUB” – it’s a conference/meeting/multipurpose space.  From their website:    

“Savvis, a CenturyLink Company, is a global I.T. management enterprise providing customers software hosting, disaster recovery systems, cloud-based content management, I.T. outsourcing services, and data centers in North America, Europe and Asia.  At the firm’s North American headquarters, Fox Architects designed the building’s multi-function conference center in a 5500 SF area formerly used as a network operations center.

The new Conference Center is in a two-story location with abundant daylight.  Its design incorporates meeting rooms, team rooms, executive briefing center and coffee area, resulting in a convenient, relaxed and functional venue with access to video and internet in a variety of spaces including a large open lounge that can accommodate employee meetings and gathering functions.

Full-glass fronts at all meeting rooms insure maximum penetration of natural light from the building’s exterior glass curtainwall throughout the interior of the space.”

Sam Fentress is the photographer.  

Workplace Generational Traits and Future Trends

www.knoll.com    Kylie Roth at Knoll St. Louis shared the attached information about generational traits and future trends.

KnowledgeLake's (www.knowledgelake.com) offices at CityPlace 6 in Creve Coeur, MO.  Domash Design Source (www.domash.com) was the architect.

Netelligent's new space in Chesterfield, MO

 http://www.netelligent.com/2013/08/take-virtual-tour-headquarters/  - virtual tour

Netelligent recently relocated to 16401 Swingley Ridge Road in Chesterfield MO.  Nehring Design is the architecture firm that designed the space.

Osborn + Barr - Downtown St. Louis

Osborn and Barr relocated to Cupples 9 from another building in the Cupples district during the last year.  Their website (http://osbornbarr.com/) has an incredible video that highlights the history of the building and district.  Nehring Design (www.nehringdesign.com)   was the architect for the project.  

Essex Industries Headquarters - St. Louis

Essex is well known as a leading manufacturer globally

supplying products to the aerospace, first response,

safety and medical markets. By revitalizing Essex’s

headquarters the company has emerged stronger and

newly invigorated after a reorganization process that

brought several formerly disparate divisions together

under one roof. Impressive circular branded wall

dividers in the main entrance lobby represent the five

company business sectors that Essex serves, while the

original floating walnut and steel decorative stairs are

reminiscent of the company’s heritage. Guests and

team members alike enjoy the ability to collaborate in

the 2,400 SF central cafe during industry events and

enhanced companywide gatherings. An interactive

executive lounge, surrounded with marker wall surfaces

and integrated technology inspires management to

gather over coffee and spreadsheets or the latest local

sporting event.

Gray Design (www.graydesigngroup.com) was the architect for the space. 

Foresight Energy - Downtown St. Louis

Foresight recently relocated their corporate headquarters from Palm Beach, Florida to the 26th

floor of Metropolitan Square; St. Louis’ tallest building.  Gray (www.graydesigngroup.com) provided full scope design services including architecturally ‘integrated’ artwork to solidly brand the new facility. Foresight wished to convey the story of coal; both above and below ground. Design elements include a coal wall water feature, a boardroom table that features chunks of coal in the center trough and a twelve screen video wall that tells the story of the coal process. The lobby ceiling is a simulated mine ceiling. The project exemplifies ‘one man’s floor is another man’s ceiling.’

10 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR OFFICE MORE FUN

http://www.fastcompany.com/3014585/how-to-be-a-success-at-everything/10-ways-to-make-your-office-more-fun

Creative Producers Group - Downtown St. Louis

The Creative Producers Group (http://www.getcreative.com/) leased space at the Park Pacific Building several years ago.  The building is a mixed-use redevelopment of the former Missouri Pacific Railroad Company headquarters.  The art-deco tower was redeveloped as luxury apartments and includes retail and office space.  KMOX also relocated from the Gateway Tower last year.  Lawrence Group was the architect for the space and entire redevelopment.  www.thelawrencegroup.com

Park Pacific

                                                                             lobby

Infuz - The Curlee Building - Downtown

Infuz ( www.infuz.com/ ) is located at 1001 Washington Avenue in this very cool space in The Curlee  Building- redveloped by Pyramid around eight years ago.  Klitzing Welsch (www.klitzingwelsch.com) was the architect. 

Arcturis - Laclede Gas Building - Downtown

I represented Arcturis (http://arcturis.com/ ) in their relocation in 2007 to the Laclede Gas Building Downtown.  The second floor was former bank space, which the owners white-boxed.  Arcturis designed the space.  The windows offer views of some of the most historic buidlings downtown which include: The Wainwright Buidling (considered the first modern skyscraper in the world), the Arcade, the Chemical and the Old Post Office.