This isn't the only downtown high rise that is rising about this height. There are quite a few others. While other cities will build one huge, 60 or 70 story high rise, St. Louis appears to have in its plans, a variety of shorter high rises, to artistically balance the skyline with the Arch. Although nothing is set in stone, it seems to be a subconscious perception that nothing should be taller than the Arch.
Still, there have been proposals that would come very close. Some of those proposals are still on the line, such as the MW Tower.
Any addition to the density (and the jobs it brings) is a very welcome addition. I think Centene could actually build a much larger tower if they wanted to given the growth prospects they're planning on. The phase 1 building will have a little room to grow, but given the timeline they need it by (2 years) they won't have schedule room for a bigger design. The big parking garage/retail that is being built next door will have a foundation capable of supporting a 550,000 sq-ft building for future expansion.
All told they could have built a 1.2 million sq-ft 50+ story building here to accomodate future growth, but the carrying costs and time required just don't support it now.
Thanks Lou. From that simple model it looks like the mini park proposal in the center of Ballpark Village is gone. Do you see that too? I'll be curious to see the revised site plan and a more detailed rendering.
dj - urbanstl has images which confirm the center area where the park was supposed to be located is now scrapped. The podium for Centene Place will extend all the way to the street located between it and the third condo tower also being built at the same time. Being a new street, I don't believe it has a name yet.
dj - urbanstl has images which confirm the center area where the park was supposed to be located is now scrapped. The podium for Centene Place will extend all the way to the street located between it and the third condo tower also being built at the same time. Being a new street, I don't believe it has a name yet.
Hmmmm.... Well I'm not real crazy about losing that "courtyard" space with the park, but I can certainly understand why it's being done. The park would have been a nice feature but may not have seen much use with a larger focus on office space dominating. Still darn exciting stuff.
The park sounded like a good idea, in theory, until you think of the fact that this additional park would only be a block and a half away from the Gateway Mall and Keiner Plaza which is still set to undergo a massive redesign. This project should have much greater density now that the greenspace is no longer in the plan.
This appears to be an updated rendering of Centene's new headquarters tower in downtown St. Louis. You can see the reflection of the arch in it's windows.
The building to the right already exists, and the ugly building to the left is probably the 250-condo tower that will be built as part of the Ballpark Village development.
Very interesting indeed. I have to say I'm pleased with it on first impression. This sort of architecture is what St. Louis so desperately needs (i.e. no brick or pre-cast concrete)
Well isn't this just a fine kick in the crotch.......
Quote:
Centene not coming to Ballpark Village
By Riddhi Trivedi-St. Clair
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Wednesday, Mar. 26 2008
Centene Corp.'s much touted move to Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis is
dead.
The Clayton-based company released a statement today stating, "Ballpark Village
was unable to accommodate Centene's plans for our world headquarters, which we
deeply regret and are disappointed to announce."
The statement coincided with the city releasing of documents requested under
Sunshine Law by the Post-Dispatch related to Ballpark Village and Centene more
than two months ago.
Centene did not say what the new location of its headquarters would be but left
open the possibility that it may be outside the St. Louis region.
oh but is it any surprise? bpv was dead to me a year ago. that they couldn't get their act together to even build the lower rise buildings over the past months/years does not bode well for a project that would be such a no-brainer anywhere else in the u.s. i was happy that centene felt the need to stay in st louis, but knowing how the city handles projects like this, i'm sure the waiting and hand-wringing eventually just pushed them to a conclusion we knew already. they need to move quickly on an expansion and if clayton couldn't do it, then helloooooo atlanta. the dt proposal was probably just a little farewell to the city. a way to say "thanks for everything, but, despite your desperate situation, you can't seem to get your act together for us so we'll go somewhere else."
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