7th Street revitalization ushers in new era of connectivity and commercial growth

Leaders convened downtown to mark the completion of the 7th Street corridor project, a significant infrastructure upgrade linking Ballpark Village/Busch Stadium and Washington Avenue/America’s Center. The improvements include protected bike and pedestrian lanes, widened sidewalks, upgraded crosswalks, new lighting and trees, repaved roadway (Walnut to Washington), and enhanced traffic management systems.

Developed through a public-private partnership featuring the City of St. Louis, Greater St. Louis, Inc., SLDC, St. Louis Cardinals, Explore St. Louis, and local business investors, the effort also ties into the Brickline Greenway at Market Street to boost connectivity and foot traffic.

Project backers say the upgraded corridor will foster a safer, more welcoming environment that supports walking, biking, and street-level activation. As activity increases, they expect new demand in retail, offic,e and mixed-use commercial real estate, helping to catalyze redevelopment of underused properties. In a market where downtown has wrestled with office vacancies and the need for adaptive reuse, this improved infrastructure is poised to attract investor interest and support the conversion of dormant buildings into productive space.

Officials view the 7th Street project as a milestone in the broader downtown revitalization agenda — one that strengthens links among core destinations and lays groundwork for sustained real estate momentum.

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Header image: City leaders celebrating the completion of the 7th Street infrastructure upgrade project. Photo | .Greater St. Louis, Inc.

St. Louis Lambert International Airport to break ground on $115M airfield facility

St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) will break ground Monday, Oct 13th, on a $115 million airfield maintenance and operations facility, signaling the first major step toward a long-anticipated overhaul of the airport’s terminal infrastructure.

The 285,000 SF complex will replace nine outdated buildings currently scattered across the airport campus, some of which have been in use for more than half a century. Once complete, the new facility will centralize airfield operations, housing maintenance and equipment storage, snow-removal vehicles, materials warehousing, and other essential airport services under one roof.

The airfield project is part of STL’s broader West Airfield Program, which also includes the construction of a new deicing pad and supporting infrastructure. After the new maintenance facility is completed in late 2027, work will shift to redeveloping the existing campus into the deicing area. The move will improve aircraft turnaround efficiency, reduce taxi times, and streamline winter weather operations.

Funding for the project includes $20 million from the Federal Aviation Administration and $4.7 million from the Airport Infrastructure Grant program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Additional financing will be supported through airport revenue bonds backed by airline fees.

Wright Construction Services will lead the project, with design and engineering oversight coordinated through airport management and its consultant team. Officials emphasized that the new airfield complex is a necessary precursor to the upcoming $3 billion terminal consolidation plan, which will eventually merge Terminals 1 and 2 into a single modern terminal with upgraded passenger amenities and operational efficiencies.

Airport leadership described the project as a foundational investment that will enhance reliability, sustainability, and long-term performance across STL’s airfield operations. As the city’s gateway for more than 15 million travelers annually, the improvements are expected to strengthen the airport’s competitiveness and support continued regional growth.

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Header image: St. Louis Lambert International Airport will soon have a new airfield maintenance and operations facility. Photo | St. Louis Lambert International Airport

New NGA campus signals a turning point for St. Louis’ geospatial economy

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency officially opened its new western headquarters in north St. Louis on Sept. 26, launching what regional leaders call the next phase of geospatial growth.

The $1.7 billion Next NGA West campus, located at Jefferson and Cass avenues, spans 97 acres and features a 700,000 SF main office building, parking garages, a visitor center, and supporting infrastructure. About 3,000 employees are expected to relocate from the agency’s current Soulard site by 2026.

The project, nearly a decade in the making, began with a 2016 site selection that positioned St. Louis as a key hub for geospatial intelligence. Construction started in 2019, and the campus is now seen as a catalyst for regional innovation, economic development, and national security.

Community and business leaders say the opening represents more than a new government facility. The campus is expected to strengthen the region’s geospatial sector, drawing investment, research, and entrepreneurial ventures. Workforce development programs, such as the GeoFutures Talent Initiative, aim to train analysts, engineers, and data scientists to support industry demand.

Economic impacts are also anticipated in the surrounding neighborhoods, where leaders hope new jobs, infrastructure improvements, and small business opportunities will follow. Local organizations have emphasized that inclusive growth will be critical for ensuring benefits extend beyond the campus gates.

With the opening, St. Louis is working to brand itself as a national leader in geospatial technology. Officials note the combination of federal investment, university partnerships, and private-sector momentum positions the region to attract talent and firms in remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.

The new facility marks a milestone in the NGA’s mission to deliver advanced geospatial intelligence, while providing the St. Louis region with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a globally recognized technology sector.

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Header image: Arial view of the newly opened National Geospacial-Intelligence Agencey in north St. Louis, Mo. Photo | NGA

Powell Hall reopens as Jack C. Taylor Music Center after $140 million renovation and expansion in St. Louis

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has reopened Powell Hall following a two-year, $140 million renovation and expansion that modernizes the historic venue while preserving its renowned acoustics and architectural character.

Originally built in 1925 and converted into a symphony hall in 1968, Powell Hall has long been a cultural landmark. The latest project, now known collectively as the Jack C. Taylor Music Center, includes a 65,000 SF addition, expanded public amenities, improved accessibility, and enhanced backstage and rehearsal spaces.

The renovation was designed by Snøhetta as design architect and Christner Architects as architect of record, with acoustical consulting by Kirkegaard. BSI Constructors served as general contractor.

Upgrades include new lobbies, concession areas, elevators, restrooms, and terrace spaces, along with a state-of-the-art Education and Learning Center. Musicians benefit from modernized rehearsal areas, dressing rooms, and a new recording studio.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid-September marked the completion, with civic leaders highlighting the project as both a cultural and economic catalyst for the city’s Grand Center Arts District. The opening celebration featured a performance led by Music Director Stéphane Denève, which showcased the hall’s refined acoustics.

The orchestra will launch its inaugural season in the renovated space Sept. 26–28 with a weekend of concerts, including world premieres and guest appearances. A free community open house is planned for Nov. 8, offering the public an opportunity to explore the reimagined venue.

Powell Hall’s transformation positions it as both a premier concert hall and a broader civic asset, ensuring its continued role at the center of St. Louis’s artistic and cultural life for decades to come.

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Header image: Exterior of Powell Hall at the Jack C. Taylor Music Center. Photo | St. Louis Symphony Orchestra credit: Sam Fentress

Barnes-Jewish opens Plaza West Tower on site of former Queeny Tower

Barnes-Jewish Hospital has completed a major chapter in its long-running campus renewal with the Plaza West Tower, a new 16-story patient care building rising where the aging Queeny Tower once stood. The 660,000 SF facility is designed to expand capacity for complex care, modernize inpatient workflows, and improve the experience for patients and families on Washington University’s medical campus.

Plaza West houses roughly 280 private inpatient rooms — 224 acute care and 56 intensive-care rooms — across seven inpatient floors, plus more than 100 surgical prep/recovery bays and an advanced imaging platform that includes MRI, CT, and interventional radiology suites. The tower also features family-focused amenities such as rooftop gardens, a two-story glass-enclosed lobby, a large family lounge with a business center and quiet rooms, and a new kitchen and cafeteria serving the south campus. BJC and WashU Medicine expect the building to relieve regional demand for specialized heart, vascular, and other high-acuity services.

The project was delivered as a design-build collaboration led by McCarthy Building Companies, which served as the design-build contractor and construction lead. CannonDesign served as architect and interior designer; BR+A provided consulting engineering; Thornton Tomasetti handled structural engineering; Castle Contracting led civil work; and landscape design was provided by DTLS. Early demolition and disentanglement work on the Queeny Tower site was notable for its complexity and was performed by firms experienced in live-campus demolition and utility relocation.

That integrated team employed modern health-care design approaches — private-room layouts to reduce infection risk, dedicated ICU floors, and finishes and acoustical strategies aimed at lowering noise and improving rest and recovery. The exterior vocabulary takes cues from neighboring campus buildings, pairing ultra-high performance concrete panels with a limestone podium and a prominent glass projection that visually connects the hospital to nearby Forest Park.

Construction milestones included a topping-out ceremony in mid-2024 and phased site work that preserved adjacent clinical operations while crews demolished the obsolete Queeny Tower and built the new facility. Local and regional contractors handled civil, utility, and site logistics to manage one of the largest single capital investments on the campus in recent years. BJC and WashU Medicine moved forward with a careful commissioning and staffing plan to bring the tower online for patients in late 2025.

Plaza West is the latest visible sign of a decade-long campus renewal effort to replace aging infrastructure with facilities built for contemporary care delivery, research-informed clinical models, and the patient-centered expectations of the communities the medical campus serves.

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Header image: The newly completed 16-story Plaza West Tower replacing the aging Queeny Tower at Barnes-Jewish Hospital is set to open in October. Image | Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Mansion House Apartments: a mid-century icon repositioned for what’s next

Rising just west of Gateway Arch National Park, the 29-story Mansion House Apartments at 300 N. Fourth St. are a signature piece of St. Louis modernism. Conceived in the mid-1960s by the firm Schwarz & Van Hoefen—whose principals Hari Van Hoefen and Richard Henmi helped define the city’s International Style—the complex introduced glass-and-steel residential living to downtown and anchored a larger “superblock” of mid-century buildings and plazas.

Today, Mansion House is in the midst of a major repositioning. Ownership entity Coral Mountain Owner LLC, which purchased the property in November 2021 for $29.3 million, is advancing a $169 million renovation program. City documents designate Coral Mountain as the redeveloper and note PARIC Corporation as the general contractor, with work spanning apartments, rooftop and pool, building systems, and the public promenade. The plan retains the 415-unit mix while modernizing finishes and amenities to meet current renter expectations.

Public-private alignment underpins the capital stack and execution. The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) approved the redeveloper designation, and earlier filings tied to the property referenced local incentives, such as multi-year tax abatements and sales-tax exemptions on construction materials—standard tools for large-scale urban reinvestments. These mechanisms, together with private equity, position the project to absorb significant capital expenditures while improving building performance.

The business plan emphasizes upside over disruption. With a substantial on-site parking supply exceeding 550 spaces and a riverfront location steps from the Arch grounds, the asset can capture demand from downtown employers, civic anchors, and a growing base of destination entertainment. Pro formas in city materials anticipate rent growth after renovation, reflecting the premium urban residents place on contemporary amenities and energy-efficient systems. Importantly, the scope maintains a stable unit count, supporting continuity for the downtown housing pipeline while enhancing quality.

Mansion House’s refresh also preserves a notable chapter of St. Louis design history. By rehabilitating an emblematic International Style tower rather than replacing it, the project aligns with broader downtown goals: retain architectural character, attract new residents, and expand the taxable base through long-term value creation. For investors and partners, the opportunity is clear—deliver a differentiated, amenity-rich product in a landmark location while leveraging established city incentives to de-risk a complex urban redevelopment.

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Header image: The 29-story Mansion House Apartments await the next phase of life with a $169 million renovation on the horizon. Image | The Cultural Landscape Foundation - credit: Adam Smith (2018)

St. Louis eyes $232 million revitalization plan with a private sector boost

Following the St. Louis Rams’ relocation to Los Angeles, a $790 million settlement was reached, with $250 million allocated to the City of St. Louis. Recent discussions have focused on utilizing these funds, with $232 million proposed for revitalizing downtown St. Louis and supporting needy neighborhoods. A key element of this plan is a pledge from the private sector to significantly enhance the city’s investment.

Greater St. Louis Inc., a prominent regional business organization, has announced plans to contribute at least $200 million in private funds to complement the city’s proposed investments. This public-private partnership aims to strengthen infrastructure, housing, and economic activity downtown and in neighborhoods on the north and southeast sides. These areas are critical to driving long-term economic growth and addressing pressing community needs.

The proposed allocation of funds would designate $102.5 million for downtown improvements and $130 million for projects in underserved neighborhoods. Greater St. Louis advocates for focusing on downtown as a vital economic hub, citing its role in generating substantial tax revenue that benefits the entire city. By directing resources toward downtown and beyond, the organization aims to spur development and attract additional federal and private funding.

City officials have also emphasized the importance of aligning investments with community priorities. Earlier this year, residents participated in a public voting process to outline their top funding needs, which included water main replacements, traffic calming measures, city worker pay raises, and childcare subsidies. Downtown infrastructure improvements were also considered a priority, though they ranked slightly lower.

Discussions have continued between the city’s leadership and business groups to ensure that plans reflect both immediate economic opportunities and long-term benefits for residents. While different strategies have been proposed, the overarching goal is to maximize the impact of the settlement funds on the city as a whole. Like those proposed by Greater St. Louis Inc., collaborative efforts aim to replicate successful models in cities such as Pittsburgh and Denver, where public-private partnerships have amplified local investments.

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Header image: Construction is underway to connect two major Downtown anchors with 7th Street between Ballpark Village and America’s Center on Washington Ave. Image courtesy of Greater St. Louis Inc.

St. Louis riverfront set for major redevelopment with $1.2 billion Gateway South project

Cushman & Wakefield has been tapped by St. Louis-based Good Developments Group to market the industrial segment of Gateway South, a sweeping $1.2 billion redevelopment initiative aimed at revitalizing 100 acres along St. Louis' riverfront. The master-planned district, envisioned as a hub for innovation in construction and design, seeks to attract industry leaders through ownership, leasing, and build-to-suit options. The project is slated for a 2025 launch.

Executive Director Tripp Hardin, SIOR, and Director Keith Ziercher, CCIM, from Cushman & Wakefield, will lead outreach efforts for Gateway South, emphasizing the site’s logistics advantages and its unique positioning in the heart of St. Louis. Strategically located just south of the Gateway Arch National Park, this historic site was once a bustling industrial and trade zone, thanks to its proximity to the Mississippi River and central geography. Today, it remains ideal for diverse industrial applications, offering multimodal logistics access via river, road, and rail, plus attractive economic incentives.

The development’s vision is to create a dynamic, integrated district where the city’s existing strength in construction and advanced manufacturing can flourish. St. Louis already boasts a high per-capita concentration of talent in these sectors and the area’s affordability and quality of life position it to attract new talent while retaining its workforce. By clustering industrial, commercial, and residential spaces, Gateway South aims to foster an innovative ecosystem where collaboration across sectors can drive efficiencies and sustainability solutions critical to meeting both housing and environmental needs.

The partnership between Good Developments Group and Cushman & Wakefield combines local insight with a global platform, aiming to draw prominent manufacturers and suppliers in the building industry. This effort not only positions Gateway South as a transformative asset for the downtown riverfront but also as a catalyst for economic growth throughout the St. Louis region.

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Header image: A rendering of Good Developments Group’s $1.2 billion project to redevelop approximately 100 acres on the St. Louis riverfront. Image courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield