urbanSTL

MattnSTL wrote:

Moorlander wrote:Ah yes, the ever so popular search lights. Why must EVERY rendering include those ridiculous spot lights?

That was my first thought when I saw the rendering. I think there is a whole class dedicated to the proper use of searchlights in renderings when you go to architecture school.

I think it goes back to Hugh Ferriss (a St. Louis native, BTW).

The Lindell Hotel was razed to make way for the Stix, Baer & Fuller Dry Goods Co.’s Grand-Leader department store that opened with eight floors in 1906.

I'm glad to see the STLBJ and the P-D acknowledge the building's original tenant. I enjoy shopping at Dillard's, but I shudder whenever I think of how they let that store turn into a complete sh!thole before they closed it in 2001.

And, I'm sorry to beat the dead horse one more time, but I still think an opportunity was missed by not including Stix, Baer, and Fuller or The Grand Leader in its name. How long ago was it when Washington Avenue was called Laurel Street anyway? I know people don't exactly identify with SB&F since the nameplate was retired over 25 years ago and since Dillard's operates relatively few of the original locations, but I think it's a more significant historical touchstone than the former name of Washington Avenue. Oh well, obviously the former and current developers don't agree with me.

So now that I'm hung up on what is in a name, is the area still being marketed as Mercantile Exchange? I've heard a lot of names being thrown around for the developments that are proceeding in this block- The Laurel, 600 Washington, Seventh Street Garage, but I haven't heard MX used since Pyramid went under. I still like the name, and I think it is fitting as the developers of these projects attempt to revive what was once one of downtown's primary retail corridors (Sixth and Seventh streets between The Stores Formerly Known As Stix, Baer, and Fuller and Famous-Barr). I suppose the same could be said for Olive Street. In addition to Famous-Barr (Macy's) and what was once the 'front door' to May Company headquarters, Olive was also home to Boyd's and Scruggs, Vandervoort, and Barney along with many smaller businesses.

threeonefour wrote: So now that I'm hung up on what is in a name, is the area still being marketed as Mercantile Exchange? I've heard a lot of names being thrown around for the developments that are proceeding in this block- The Laurel, 600 Washington, Seventh Street Garage, but I haven't heard MX used since Pyramid went under.

Yep, they're sticking with the name.

^I guess they couldn't Baer it.

You two couldn't be Fuller of it.

Edit (Damn you beat me too posting the response.)

Gone Corporate wrote:threeonefour: While I agree with your contentions, and I bet the developers considered other names such as those companies mentioned, I bet the main reason for utilizing The Laurel as the project name is because it is not protected as a legal brand name. The legacy owners of Stix wouldn't want their brand, no longer utilized it may be, used without their permission, and the cost of buying rights to use a brand name for the building is probably prohibitive. If they named the building after a trademark, they're open to liabilities. Naming it after the cross-street, however, is free.

Excellent point. However, there are many other loft and office developments named after former department stores, hotels, etc. that bear the name of the original tenant. The legacy owner of the Stix, Baer, and Fuller name is also the legacy owner of McAlpin's in Cincinnati- Dillard's. When that store was closed in the late 1990s and was redeveloped as lofts a few years later, it became The McAlpin. I believe the old Shillito's store in downtown Cincinnati also bears the original name, and if I remember my department store merger history correctly, Shillito's is one of over 100 department store nameplates owned by Macy's.

So it wouldn't have been impossible to name the building after its original tenant, although it's definitely more costly and tedious to accomplish (as you pointed out) because the name is probably still trademarked. No such issues with The Laurel, of course!

Sorry I missed out on all of the pun fun yesterday morning!

Stix Baer & Fuller and its original cornice 1925


The building that preceded the second building of Stix Baer & Fuller

The building at far left is the part of Stix that was built in 1907, the building next to that was replaced by the second Stix building in 1921. Behind that is 555 Washington. The buildings behind that I believe are gone. A modern building and the Missouri Athletic Club (built 1914) stand there now.

Anyone know what the newer constriction on the roof is? Obviously, it's an entire added floor, but why was it added? Story?

It's hardly noticable, but is much different architecturally than the rest of the building.

Gatechie wrote:The 9th floor was designed by Mauran's new firm post Mauran, Russell, and Crowell which were the original architects. It was constructed in '48 and is protected through its historic designation. Earlier concepts for this project removed the street fascades of this addition and created a setback of 20 some odd feet for private roof gardens, thus mitigating the addition's impact on the original buildings.

I think the 9th floor addition to what was once Stix, Baer, and Fuller is quite interesting. Many of our country's great downtown department stores grew by building annexes or simply expanding into adjacent buildings. The massive Hudson's in Detroit had an annex, and unfortunately, the original building and its annex were both demolished in a spectacular implosion in the late 1990s. Jordan Marsh (now Macy's, of course) in Boston had annexes, although some were demolished for a failed mall (imagine that), so only a portion of the original store remains.

So while the 9th floor addition clearly doesn't match the rest of the building, it is an example of an addition that was sensitive to the architecture of the main building since it had a setback that minimized the impact on the front elevation/facade.

If I had the opportunity to move downtown, I'd love to live in this building.

Embassy Suites to open in October as reported by PD's Tim Logan in Building Blocks

Downtown Embassy Suites to open in October

http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 0f31a.html

Look'n good

Here is the link from Aug 19th Building Blocks on the new manager for the downtown Embassy Suites Hotel.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 0f31a.html

I walked by the place on the way to a Rams game. It looks they they have a lot of work to do to be ready by October, but things are changing fast.

moorlander wrote:Look'n good

Does it light up at night? I would have preferred something more neon, but if it lights up it could be cool.

In my opinion the exterior still needs a ton of work. At this point much of the repaired or replaced pieces of marble or limestone simple dont match.

gatechie wrote:The design was much cooler and drew inspiration from the old Grand Leader logo. However, Embassy Suites has its standards and pulled out the parts that would have made it a truly distinct sign.

Any chance you could show us the original design?