urbanSTL

Sorry for getting a bit off-topic, but maybe there's a silver lining to Solae's move. Once they're gone, maybe someone will start thinking of a way to redevelop the Purina "campus." That sea of parking lots is awful.



It'd be nice if the area became a dense, truly urban link between the south side and downtown. Same goes for Ameren's suburban-style campus.

The Purina campus won't be abandoned. I believe Solae occupies only a small portion of it. Purina (or Ralston, or whoever they are these days) still has a very large presence there.

^^Too bad Ralston/Purina's presence is in the form of a non-urban office park.



Anyway, how 'bout them guys at CORTEX.

I have now passed by this buildings on zippity Forest Park Pkwy/Blvd.



The building stands in stark comparison to the 1950-1980s buildings on this and surrounding streets. The difference is proximity to the street with CORTEX having a small two feet or so shrub patch from the sidewalk whereas the other buildings may be set back ten or more feet. The closeness of the building to the street creates closure and a comfortable place to walk with the three sets of trees. Both sidewalks and the median are the three sets of tree rows. The other difference is materials and the last shape. The materials are not dark brick with punctured holes or windows that one does not notice, but is an angled sheet of glass toward the sidewalk. Thus, light is reflected onto the walk.



One thing hard to describe is atmosphere. Despite plantings and sculpture in Clayton's downtown and even many of St. Louis's downtown buildings are dead to walk by. This may be due to the era in which they were built or 1950-1980s design. CORTEX somehow interacts with the street and makes for a nice walk-by. Plus, the setting sun helps with the glass

hold on - I'm confused (no comments please) ....

You "passed by the building." ? Is it already built? Did you see a rendering? Where did you get that info.



By the way - The business journal is reporting that another biotech company is expanding and staying in St. Louis - though they're at the UMSL research park and not Cortex.



and for what its worth - I'm happy to see Solea move to Cortex. Concentrating our biotech is a good idea - and like many have said - the purina complex could definately use some work. Maybe the need for new blood on campus will spur on some real, urban development

markofucity wrote:hold on - I'm confused (no comments please) ....

You "passed by the building." ? Is it already built? Did you see a rendering? Where did you get that info.



By the way - The business journal is reporting that another biotech company is expanding and staying in St. Louis - though they're at the UMSL research park and not Cortex.



and for what its worth - I'm happy to see Solea move to Cortex. Concentrating our biotech is a good idea - and like many have said - the purina complex could definately use some work. Maybe the need for new blood on campus will spur on some real, urban development

ya it's been built for a while now

where? Are we talking about the buildign on Sarah (that was finished about two months ago?)

markofucity wrote:where? Are we talking about the buildign on Sarah (that was finished about two months ago?)

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=& ... +st.+louis

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its on FPP

Thats what I thought. .... so my question then remains? Why aren;t there any renderings of the new solea headquarters? If they've already broken ground one would assume that they at least have some idea what they're building.

maybe I'll call them up and offer to buy some soy steak if they just send me a pic of the renderings ....

actually - it just dawned on me that I know a guy in their legal department. Maybe I can finangle some renderings out of him ....



doesn't anybody else out there want to see the renderings ??? I mean come on forum - somebody's got to have them

^Not really. Sorry, its just difficult to get excited about a low-rise, suburban-style office building, even if it is in the city.

well is that what they're building? I haven't heard one way or another. Maybe they're building somethign impressive .... thats kind of the poitn of my question ... what the hell are they building?

Does anyone know for sure where the new Solae building is going to be? It looks like it's going to be the southwest corner of boyle and duncan, where there's currently a decent-looking 2-story old factory/warehouse building. It also could be the southeast corner, where there's a parking lot. That's where the construction trailer is now. Either place, it should be a great addition to the area and begin to make CORTEX an actual district instead of just a building.



As far as Cortex 1, I really like it. It seems like the surface parking is a bit excessive, but if they had to do it, I'm eternally grateful they chose to put it in the back.

CORTEX was highlighted in Sunday's Post-Dispatch for helping make St. Louis one of the top 10 Green Cities in the nation with Austin and San Francisco trailing us.

Have the stone trimmings and mediallons been offered to the architectural museum guy?



I can see why Solea wants a new building so that they can have NEW wet lab space with all the amenities new space comes with which is more compatible for scientific research. Think about more than fire codes but chemical spills, high tech ventilation, and air tight rooms, etc

Plus, they can build an underground parking garage which the current building could not hold.



It's a hard call, but remember that many buildings between Grand and Jefferson were once mansions built in the 1850s-1870s that were destroyed for commercial and warehouses in the 1900-1920s.



It would really be neat if the current limestone features could be incorporated into the new exterior design. Imagine Post-Modernist with 1910s Arts & Crafts features!

Again - why on earth can't we get renderings from these people? They're a commercial company - and a big one at that. I've sent them an e-mail .... my freind in the legal department is equaly clueless.

^Because the monkey hasn't finished drawing it yet.

I hate to see that old building go, but I'm encouraged to see that the new one is being designed by Cannon. They usually do very nice, modernist work. Hopefully Solae is giving them a decent budget to work with.