I think St. Louis has enough "international style" buildings. They are everywhere. Granted this rendering is not enough to completely judge the whole project, but St. Louis (Clayton), has to get more daring.Framer wrote:Not bad. The ultimate esthetic success or failure of these types of "international style" buildings lies in the details. In other words, whether or not the developer is willing to spend the money to do it right, or if they chose to "cheap out". We'll see.
Arch City wrote:I think St. Louis has enough "international style" buildings. They are everywhere. Granted this rendering is not enough to completely judge the whole project, but St. Louis (Clayton), has to get more daring.Framer wrote:Not bad. The ultimate esthetic success or failure of these types of "international style" buildings lies in the details. In other words, whether or not the developer is willing to spend the money to do it right, or if they chose to "cheap out". We'll see.
Although many new com and res developments around metro St. Louis aren't bad, per se, when you consider buildings (commercial and residential) going up in Atlanta, Chicago, Philly, Seattle even Cincy, St. Louis continues to demonstrate conservative design, in my opinion. Maybe this project will turn out to be a great addition to the architectural stock of the region, but judging from the rendering it just okay. It looks 80's-ish.
St. Louis (and Clayton) has to think outside of "the box", which is why I hope Libeskind's design is done downtown.
I think that I "quasi" like the design for the same reason. It is a departure from the red and salmon-colored brick. Also, it will be the second tallest to be built, when built, in Clayton in recent years.shadrach wrote:Uninspired as it is, I'm glad it isn't more salmon-colored brick
JCity wrote:downtown Clayton looks like downtown Witchita or Des Moines.. boring....
bpe235 wrote: Looks like another DT clayton office block with no street level retail.
Clayton plaza project is moving forward
By Margaret Gillerman
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/05/2007
CLAYTON — The proposed $210 million Centene Plaza development cleared a hurdle Wednesday when the Clayton Plan Commission voted to recommend a zoning change for the property.
The recommendation was to establish a planned unit development for the property, which is already zoned for commercial use. It now goes to the Board of Aldermen.
Centene Corp., which handles health benefits plans, is proposing an office, retail and commercial development covering most of a square block of the Clayton business district. The main tower would be at Hanley Road and Forsyth Boulevard. The project would include a garden, waterfall and courtyard with access to shops and Centene's corporate headquarters.
Commission members said their approval did not extended to plans for parking, which member Mark Zorensky said was inadequate as proposed. Centene will later present details of parking and architecture, as well as a site plan.
The development now is blocked pending the outcome of litigation before the state Court of Appeals, scheduled to begin April 11. Centene owns much of the property, but some properties along Forsyth are now occupied by other businesses. Owners of those properties say the properties are not blighted and should not be condemned.
David Danforth, one of the property owners, said after the meeting that the litigation over blighting and condemnation could last six months or longer.
"I'd love for them to build it if they buy the property," he said. "For me, it's more of a philosophical battle. I think eminent domain is a terrible thing."
Catherine Powers, city planning and development director, outlined benefits of the project including new jobs, public spaces and architectural distinction.
