AIA St. Louis honors 2025 design award recipients for excellence in architecture and craft

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) St. Louis Chapter celebrated outstanding design achievement during its 2025 Design Awards, held at the Center of Contemporary Arts (COCA). The annual event recognizes exemplary projects in architecture, interiors, unbuilt work, small projects, drawings, and craft.

This year’s jury was led by distinguished professionals, including Maija Kreishman, FAIA, principal at Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, who chaired the Architecture and Unbuilt categories; Timothy Trotter, president of TROCOFAB, serving as Craft Jury Chair; and Perry Kulper, professor at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, who chaired the Drawing category.

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS

Distinguished Award – Social Progress

DOORWAYS Housing & Administration

Trivers

Client: DOORWAYS | General Contractor: BSI Constructors | MEP Engineer: G&W Engineering | Structural Engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers | Civil Engineer: Civil Design, Inc. | Landscape Architect: Arbolope Studio | Photography: Sam Fentress; Serhii Chrucky / ESTO

Distinguished Award – Adaptive Reuse

Russ Burns Building – Clayco Home Office

Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC)

Client: Clayco, Inc. | General Contractor: Clayco, Inc. | Structural Engineer: Uzun + Case | Civil Engineer: Stock + Associates | Plumbing Engineer: G&W Engineering | Signage & Artwork: KO & Company | Custom Millwork: Martin Goebel | 3D Print Artwork: Printerior | Interior Plantings: Ambius | Photography: LJC; Eric Laignel

Honor Award

Market Center of the Ozarks

Patterhn Ives LLC

Client: Northwest Arkansas Food Systems | General Contractor: CDI Contractors | Civil & Landscape: Ecological Design Group | Structural Engineer: Martin/Martin Engineers | MEP Engineering: HSA Engineering | Lighting: H2LTG | Signage & Graphics: Design Ranch | Photography: Sam Fentress

Merit Award

SCAD River House

Mackey Mitchell Architects

Client: Savannah College of Art and Design | General Contractor: Clayco, Inc. | Landscape Architect: Mandel Design, LLC | Structural Engineer: Tharpe Engineering Group | Civil Engineer: Hussey Gay Bell | Mechanical/Electrical/Fire Protection: Salas O’Brien | Lighting: Power Design | Photography: Sam Fentress

Above: Interiors Merit Award winner- a warm and welcoming reception. 4300 E. Camelback by Lamar Johnson Collaborative. Photo | LJC

INTERIORS AWARDS

Honor Award

The Clover at Olive Crossing

HOK

Client: Keeley Properties & KEAT Properties | General Contractor: Keeley Construction | Furniture Dealer: Continua | Photographer: Alise O’Brien

Merit Award

Kings Hill | Brown & Crouppen

HOK

Client: Third Man Development | General Contractor: Paric Corporation | Structural Engineer: KPFF | MEP Engineer: Design-Build | Furniture: CI Select | Demountable Partitions: Maars Living Walls | Photography: Sam Fentress

Merit Award

4300 E. Camelback

LJC

Client: Clayco, Inc. | General Contractor: Stevens Leinweber Construction | MEP Engineer: Energy Systems Design | A/V Engineer: Coltrane Systems | Interior Design: Lamar Johnson Collaborative

UNBUILT AWARDS

Distinguished Award – Community Impact

“The Glade” – Steinberg Pavilion and Rink Reimagined

Christner Architects (Prime Architect) and Snow Kreilich Architects (Design Architect)

Client: Forest Park Forever | General Contractor: BSI Constructors | Landscape Architect: Hoerr Schaudt | Structural: KPFF | Civil: David Mason & Associates | Lighting: RBLD | Community Engagement: Vector Communications | Renderings: Snow Kreilich; Hoerr Schaudt

Honor Award

Caroline Residence

No Other Way

Client: Confidential

Merit Award

Powell Hall Renovation and Expansion

Christner Architects and Snøhetta (Design Architect)

Client: St. Louis Symphony Orchestra | General Contractor: BSI Constructors | Structural: KPFF | MEPFP: McClure Engineering | Civil: David Mason & Associates | Theatre Planning: Schuler Shook | Acoustics: Kirkegaard | Lighting: Reed Burkett | Renderings: Snøhetta

DRAWINGS AWARDS

Honor Award – Walls of Washington — AVV A

Honor Award – Of Earth, Water and Sky — Cody Heller

Merit Award – On an Open Field — Nneoma Asinugo

CRAFT AWARDS

Honor Award

Structural Brick Arches in Contemporary Chapel

HKW

Client: Saint Louis University | General Contractor: BSI Constructors | Falsework Contractor: BSI Constructors | Masonry Contractor: John Smith Masonry

---

Header image: Architecture Distiguished Award winner for adaptive reuse. Russ Burns Building | Clayco home office. Photo | .LJC - credit: Eric Laignel

Two new hotels set to revitalize long-stalled Riverpointe development in St. Charles

For more than a decade, the Riverpointe development along the Missouri River in St. Charles lay largely dormant, despite early enthusiasm for its promising vision. Envisioned as a sweeping, mixed-use waterfront transformation spanning approximately 82 to 120 acres between Interstate 70 and Main Street, the project was drafted by Lamar Johnson Collaborative, which conceived a vibrant plan featuring a lake spanning 30 to 40 acres, office and residential towers, a hotel, riverfront retail and dining, a central plaza, landscaped townhomes, and a pedestrian bridge connecting to Bangert Island, all knit together by a rebuilt Katy Trail and an active Riverwalk promenade.

In early phases, CRG, Clayco’s development division, assumed the lead for multiple phases, advancing critical infrastructure work such as grading, filling, utility extensions, new roads, sidewalks, and trail elevations above the 500-year floodplain—ensuring the land is prepared for future construction.

The city, in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, addressed flood concerns by elevating more than 100 acres, relocating roadways, creating roundabouts, and enabling the project to move forward on firm ground.

Still, development stalled. Fragmented land ownership, lingering regulatory caution, and financing hurdles have slowed vertical construction. However, early progress, including the opening of Chicken N Pickle —a signature entertainment venue combining pickleball courts, dining, and social space—demonstrates the potential for Riverpointe to thrive.

Above: A conceptual rendering of the walkable shopping areas at the mixed-use Riverpointe development in St. Charles, Mo. Image | Lamar Johnson Collaborative

Now, renewed momentum is on the horizon. The city reports that two hotels are confirmed for construction within the Riverpointe district, injecting fresh confidence into the project’s future—particularly because lodging is central to transforming the area into a full-service destination that supports diners, shoppers, and even possible corporate tenants. Though developers and branding have not yet been announced, hotel construction signals that the site’s long-dormant potential may finally be unlocked.

Underpinning this revitalization is a solid design and technical foundation. Lamar Johnson Collaborative remains the principal planner and designer of the master vision—crafting a walkable, active main street, public plazas, and integrated green space that revitalizes the riverfront.

Clayco continues to serve as construction manager, alongside CRG as developer, ensuring continuity from master planning through physical delivery. The city itself remains a committed partner, having cleared ownership barriers, working on flood mitigation, and facilitating infrastructure necessary to support the burgeoning district.

The impact of the hotels advancing beyond planning is significant. Lodging is both a destination generator and a catalyst for commercial and residential activity—drawing visitors, stimulating retail and food service, and encouraging new residential interest. This, in turn, makes the ambitious goals of Riverpointe—4,000 new jobs, an estimated $1.5 billion in economic activity, and an influx of roughly 1 million annual visitors—much more achievable.

With foundational elements in place—flood mitigation, reimagined road and trail systems, phased infrastructure, and adaptive design—and now hospitality anchors confirmed, Riverpointe is poised to reemerge as a lively waterfront neighborhood that connects nightlife, commerce, and nature. As designers and contractors refine the details and cranes return to the skyline, Riverpointe could be set to deliver on its long-held promise: a vibrant riverfront destination rooted in thoughtful urbanism, thoughtful design, and collaborative execution.

---

Header image: The long awaited Riverpointe development just off I-70 in St. Charles, Mo. may have life once again. Image | Lamar Johnson Collaborative