The developer of a new 29-story plyscraper in downtown St Louis, hoping to put the city on the map for tall timber construction, is on track to break ground next year. The project, called The 314, will feature 287 apartments, 15,000 square feet of commercial space—including a restaurant with views of the nearby Energizer Park—and about 373 parking spots at 2100 Locust Street, near the MLS stadium.
It comes as locak developer AHM Group revealed that the new building will be constructed from cross-laminated timber, saving it money thanks to an accelerated construction schedule. “It will be a great marquee landmark for Downtown West,” according to Brian Pratt, AHM principal, who spoke to St Louis media yesterday.
Wood Central understands the new high-rise, part of a much larger city block activation project, was approved by planning officials late last year – with AHM given the green light to transform 12 acres of buildings and vacant land into 450 apartment units and tens of thousands of square feet of offices and retail.
“All five phases together form a perfect scenario that is all market types,” said Zachary Wilson, vice president of economic development incentives for the St. Louis Development Corporation. “A mix of commercial and office space and residential fits nicely into that neighbourhood.”
Crucially, the development will be close to several anchors, including St Louis University, the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency offices, CityPark, and Union Station: “We’re surrounded by demand drivers,” said Kyle Howerton, the managing principal and partner at AHM. “Our focus is curating the neighbourhood, creating a place that people actually want to live, work and hang out in.”
And that includes affordable housing, with at least 100 units in the towers earmarked for people making up to 60% and 80% of the city’s median income. “We’re really focused on being able to create a neighbourhood that serves everyone, and that’s really driven through the diversity of incomes and affordability,” Howerton said.
However, for Howerton, the potential to use wood to reactivate urban precincts is especially tantalising: “I hope that this is a catalyst for more structures being built using the same technologies,” Howerton told St Louis Radio. “It feels really nice, and it could help St. Louis be placed on the sustainability map.”
So-called ‘secondary cities’ led the way in mass timber adoption.
Last year, Michael Green, a global leader in mass timber and architect behind The Neutral’s new 50-storey mass timber scheme over the Milwaukee snow pile, said that secondary cities are now leading the way in sustainable development.
According to Mr Green, city officials are completely “on board” with the sustainable-centric design, with smaller cities having a unique opportunity to create sustainable models for larger cities, like Chicago, less willing to experiment with materials, to follow. “It is ambitious projects like this that show how smaller cities are now poised to surpass the once-dominant capitals that shaped our skylines a century ago. Milwaukee’s progressive leaders are embracing a future-oriented vision, encouraging development and innovation. Secondary cities across America are proving what’s possible. It’s time we all listen.”
