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Infuz,
555 Washington Ave. |
CREATIVE SPACES
DOWNTOWN
OFFICE CONDOS, LIVE/WORK SPACES,
AND LOFT OFFICES IN DEMAND
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By Laurie Burstein
Creative Companies Embrace Downtown
While advertising agencies are pretty much expected to have creative
offices, three interactive communication firms in downtown St. Louis
are carrying this notion to new heights. Inside these workplaces,
cubes and walls are a thing of the past. Instead, open layouts,
huge windows with lots of natural light, high ceilings, cafes, workout
areas and game rooms are the norm. Here’s a taste of what inspired
the owners of three marketing firms to create their own unique workplace
in historic downtown structures.
Jason Fiehler, Infuz
Interactive agency Infuz decided to move to a historic downtown
building at 555 Washington Avenue last year because many of the
agencies’ clients were located nearby, as well as a good portion
of the employee base lived in close proximity. But, agency principal
Jason Fiehler says he was also looking for a space that inspired
innovation.
“We were looking for older buildings with lots of character to fit
with our company’s creative image and downtown was the only place
that had a significant number of them,” Fiehler says. “Creative
is core to our work product so a traditional space would not have
worked for us. Also, it serves as a great recruiting tool for us.
People want to work in a space that is different from the typical
‘cube farm’.”
What makes Infuz’s space creative? “We set out to create a space
that was inspiring from an aesthetic standpoint, functional for
the way we work, and consistent with our brand identity. We were
able to merge elements that previously existed in the space like
exposed ceilings and ductwork, massive windows, and a unique raised
metal floor, with new features such as a café area with modern styling,
a furniture system that facilitates collaboration, a high-end audio
system for the main work area, and lots of meeting areas. We also
kept the pre-existing open layout of the space and added very few
walls so as to promote collaboration amongst our employees.”
“One of the greatest compliments that we receive is many of our
clients go out of their way to meet here. In fact, several of our
clients have requested to hold “off-site” meetings here—meetings
that we aren’t involved in—because, as they put it, Infuz’s space
inspires innovation”.
Mark Schupp Schupp Company Inc.
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Schupp
Company Inc., 401 Pine Street |
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The Mississippi Valley Trust Building, located at the corner of
4th and Pine, is one of the most architecturally significant buildings
in downtown. For the past six years it has been home to the Schupp
Company, a marketing and advertising firm with 38 employees. With
its 30-foot high ornate ceilings and huge lobby, the 110-year old
building has been a bank, restaurant/bar, and more recently a BJC
HealthCare facility. Schupp used this to his advantage and turned
a former physical therapy room into a gym with basketball, exercise
equipment, a locker room and showers. Boot camp is held three times
a week and employees are encouraged to work out before and after
work.
The four-story building has undergone renovations since Schupp bought
it, and work is still in progress. He describes many of the unique
features which include a contemporary design, imported glass from
Japan, an open lobby for brainstorming meetings, a game room with
pool table, video games and golf.
Schupp describes how he was in a bidding war with three other people
for the building and paid more than the asking price. “I’m a big
believer in both downtown St. Louis and owning your own building,”
Schupp says.
He continued, “Downtown is a hotbed of action now and this has turned
out to be the best investment I ever made. Plus, I love old historic
buildings and this is a one-of-a-kind structure. The building is
also perfectly suited for the creative industry we are in. It really
compliments our style.”
When asked about the risk involved in taking on a historic building
project, Schupp replies, “If you buy things you enjoy and use, you
will be successful. This is a very impressive space. When people
come for the first time, their mouths drop open.”
Steve Springmeyer Phoenix Creative
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Phoenix
Creative, 611 N. 10th Street |
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Phoenix Creative, located in The Curlee Building at 10th and Washington,
is a sales promotion and graphic design firm that counts Anheuser-Busch,
Dobbs Tire and Heartland Bank among its clients.
While The Curlee Building is owned by Pyramid Development, Springmeyer
says his agency was very involved in designing their space.
Recently a dramatic staircase was built as a centerpiece to open
all the floors in the building. Made of black steel, Springmeyer
says the new staircase has improved traffic flow and even improved
morale by fostering more interaction among employees. Phoenix Creative
also has a game room with a pool table, dart boards, shuffle board
and TV.
“We designed a space that lets the historic character of the building
shine through,” Springmeyer says. “This is true loft-office space.
The space is intended to be a reflection of the quality of our employees
and the work that we do.”
Springmeyer says the downtown location and building itself have
been great for employee retention and client recruitment. “Everyone
who comes to our workplace says, ‘I want to work here!’”
Live Where You Work
Dan Holak
Robert Wood Realty Company
The Tudor Lofts at 19th & Washington take up an entire city block
and once housed the 75-year-old Wrought Iron Range Company. About
a year and a half ago, Robert Wood Realty Company purchased the
building and now has big plans to create live/work units.
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Tudor
Lofts, 1901 Washington Avenue |
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“We are creating urban retail store fronts that open up onto Washington
Avenue,” says Dan Holak, an investor in the project. “On the side
facing Lucas, we are building hybrid apartments with a work component.
These will be street level units with open patios—ideal for artists
to sell their work,” Holak explains.
About 17 two-bedroom live/work units will be on the market by spring
of 2008. Also planned are sidewalk cafes, restaurants, bars, and
possibly a bookstore. Holak says financing and architectural plans
are now being finalized. Plans call for preserving the original
historic structure and utilizing state and federal tax credits for
the restoration.
“We want to attract artist/entrepreneurs who want street-level studio
space. Artists can create and display their work from their homes,”
Holak says. “People will be amazed at our plans.”
Loft-Style Offices Go Fast
Dennis Flatness
New City Neighborhood Redevelopment, LLC.
Located at 11th and Locust, the Spool Thread Lofts were originally
built in 1906 and housed a manufacturer of thread for the garment
district. Dennis Flatness and his company turned the building into
office condos which are now individually-owned. The building includes
four floors of condominium office space with first-floor retail.
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The
Alexander Building, 1121 Locust Street (foreground)
and the Spool Thread Building, 1113 Locust
Street (background). |
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The five-story building remained vacant for many years before Flatness
and his company did a gut-rehab that took over a year. Today, tenant
owners include a technology and marketing company, a financial services
company, and a retailer—furniture store Blend.
Flatness says the office condo concept is new to St. Louis and gives
small businesses the advantage of owning their own space—like paying
rent to themselves.
The concept has been well received and the units sold relatively
fast Flatness says. “Owning an office condo gives small business
owners a measure of independence. They can do want they want with
their space, yet they are part of an association of all the owners
to handle maintenance and other common issues.”
“The Spool Thread Lofts gives businesses loft-type office space
with lots of exposed brick and high ceilings. There is virtually
no dry wall and no cubes. Owners get a high-tech look in a historic
building with a lot of flexibility to design their own space. It’s
a big contrast to traditional office space.”
Kevin McGowan
McGowan & Walsh
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Ballpark
Lofts at Cupples Station |
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The Ballpark Lofts at Cupples Station are a hot property. Although
construction doesn’t begin until next summer, developer Kevin McGowan
says he has already received 59 checks in 39 days from individuals
who want to buy a loft. On the commercial side of the mixed-use
property, three law firms and other white collar businesses have
already shown great interest.
McGowan says the complex is 50 percent residential and 50 percent
commercial with Class A rehab space. “Businesses will have loft-style
office space in a building with more than 100 years of history,”
he explains. Cupples Complex used to house the largest warehouse
facility of its kind and moved over a thousand tons of merchandise
a day.
The unique location near the new stadium along with great access
to Highway 40 and proximity to the upcoming Chouteau Lake Development,
make the Ballpark Lofts a prime property.
Inside the historic building, McGowan says office tenants will find
the latest in technology and fiber optics, along with other state-of-the-arts
systems, new lighting, thermal windows and brilliant light throughout
every office.
McGowan has been developing downtown real estate for the past nine
years and has other projects in St. Louis, as well as other cities
including Cleveland, Kansas City, Springfield and Cincinnati. All
are inner-city urban rehab projects.
“Tenants will find historic character they can’t have in a new building.
This kind of office is a huge recruiting tool for attracting young,
creative talent.”
He adds that the buildings sat empty for more than 20 years and
were scheduled to be torn down. “It’s a great thrill to be the caretaker
of this building and be a part in preserving our history,” McGowan
says.
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ABOUT
DOWNTOWN
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Lucas
Lofts will one day be home to Joe Edwards’ Flamingo Bowl and
Martini Bar. The first floor martini bar and bowling alley
is Edwards’ first project outside of the Delmar Loop and will
be an ideal place to relax in a vintage, retro-friendly atmosphere.
The Roberts Orpheum Theater is a first class venue for concerts
and performing arts, as well as for private events. Constructed
at the corner of 9th Street and St. Charles in 1917 by St.
Louis self-made millionaire Louis A. Cella. Back in the day,
lead architect Albert Lansburgh worked with artist Leo Lentelli
who is responsible for the ornate sculptures that are still
magnificent today. Lansburgh had already designed seven previous
theaters for the Orpheum franchise. Lentelli had began working
in Rome before moving to New York City where his works were
commissioned for many projects, including Rockefeller Center.
When it joined the more than two-dozen theaters of the national
"Orpheum vaudeville circuit" on its opening, the "Parisian
style" theater was considered an "architectural masterpiece
and technological wonder. "With the end of vaudeville, the
theater was leased to Warner Brothers as a movie house. In
the 1960s it underwent a reincarnation as a performance venue
and was re-christened The American Theater.
In 2003, St. Louisans Mike and Steve Roberts purchased the
theater from Charles Cella, grandson of the visionary who
built it. They undertook a major rehabilitation of the theater,
bringing it back to its former splendor. |
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