Hi.  I am looking into moving to the St. Louis area.  What are some of the more better/ more well-known architecture firms in the metro area?  I know of HOK, but that's all I know.

(Revised to now include discussion about best neighborhoods and schools.)

HOK is the only big national/international player that I can think of. Cannon Design is a good regional/national architect.

Btodd92 wrote: ↑

Dec 13, 2020

Hi.  I am looking into moving to the St. Louis area.  What are some of the more better/ more well-known architecture firms in the metro area?  I know of HOK, but that's all I know.

I'd say Trivers, Arcturis, and Cannon Design are solid players beyond HOK.

Clayco's in-house design firm - Lamar Johnson Collaborative - has offices here. 

They've done a bunch of projects around town.

I know people at Trivers, Arcturis, Christner, LJC, HOK, Canon, Oculus, RDG (I believe this is interior architecture only in STL) and PGAV (more well known for experience design). All my connections have said their work/life conditions are balanced and they enjoy their work settings so I’d say any of them are great firms.

I also know firms in landscape architecture if that is an interest as well.

Btodd, what's your objective? Looking for a job, or looking to hire an architect?  

Thanks everyone.  Much appreciated.  framer, I am looking for a job, though, I'm open in taking on business or starting my own firm or joining with someone else.
My brother's family lives in the metro area and my family is also looking at more affordable metro areas.  I really like the charm that St. Louis has, but we've also been hearing that St Louis and Missouri are typically ranked as one of the worst.  I've driven through northeast St.Louis before, but have also lived in similar crappy neighborhoods of Philly and have been a victim of violent crimes.  So, I kind of know the potential issues.  I would love to live in Central West End or Forest Park area, but the schools are ranked pretty bad, and I have two little girls.  So, I'm looking at the Glendale area or just a little further south/southwest of Clayton.  I'm thrilled to see all of the abandoned old buildings being re-converted to housing and the recent new infill that is happening in the stretch from downtown to Clayton.  I wish I could live in those areas.  Coming from Seattle, I could definitely afford to live in a large condo in one of those old condo/loft buildings, but the schools...  

The best public schools in the state are in SLPS. I wish the rankings included a breakdown by household income since that's the chief indicator of performance in school.

SLPS?  St. Louis Public Schools?  I thought the same too about household income.  I mean the high schools in Central West End & University/Forest Park serve some decent houselholds, but also serve the poorer neighborhoods to the north.  The high schools rank 1 or 2 out of ten.  Peers have a big influence, also.  

quincunx wrote:The best public schools in the state are in SLPS. I wish the rankings included a breakdown by household income since that's the chief indicator of performance in school.

Do you have anything to back this up?

@OP Clayton is a great school district. The high school is consistently ranked in the top 5 in the state.

Interesting.  Zillow didn't rank the high schools in Clayton very high.  Correction, the homes on the northern area of Clayton went to University which only gets a 2 out of 10.  Clayton High School got an 8.

Clayton, Brentwood and Lindbergh school districts offer wonderful Public school options.

Btodd92 wrote:Interesting.  Zillow didn't rank the high schools in Clayton very high.

Clayton is 2nd and Ladue 3rd best high school in the state. Both send a significant % of students to top-25 universities each year.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-h ... s/missouri


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ldai_phs wrote: ↑

Dec 13, 2020

quincunx wrote:The best public schools in the state are in SLPS. I wish the rankings included a breakdown by household income since that's the chief indicator of performance in school.

Do you have anything to back this up?

@OP Clayton is a great school district. The high school is consistently ranked in the top 5 in the state.

SLPS has three schools in the State's top 10
#1 - Metro
#6 - McKinley
#8 - Collegiate

The Central West End area also has some really good private/catholic schools such as New City, Forsyth School, Rosati-Kain, etc. 

I guess this has turned into a different topic than what I originally posted.  Should I start a new thread? All great info, though.  Thanks everyone.

ldai_phs wrote: ↑

Dec 13, 2020

HOK is the only big national/international player that I can think of. Cannon Design is a good regional/national architect.

Just curious, what work has HOK done in St. Louis.  On their website, I only see a couple smallish projects in the St. Louis area.

Btodd92 wrote:

ldai_phs wrote: ↑

Dec 13, 2020

HOK is the only big national/international player that I can think of. Cannon Design is a good regional/national architect.

Just curious, what work has HOK done in St. Louis.  On their website, I only see a couple smallish projects in the St. Louis area.

The HOK offices in STL and KC do a lot of work in other cities. I am more familiar with their KC office. I know that office has done projects across the US. The STL office is the same way I think.

MLS stadium
The not built NFL stadium
Expo at Forest Park (along with Trivers)

ldai_phs wrote:

Btodd92 wrote:

ldai_phs wrote: ↑

Dec 13, 2020

HOK is the only big national/international player that I can think of. Cannon Design is a good regional/national architect.

Just curious, what work has HOK done in St. Louis.  On their website, I only see a couple smallish projects in the St. Louis area.

The HOK offices in STL and KC do a lot of work in other cities. I am more familiar with their KC office. I know that office has done projects across the US. The STL office is the same way.

HOK is responsible for the design of One Metropolitan Square, Eagleton Courthouse, and numerous other Downtown buildings. Smaller wise, they’re involved in the Missouri Foundation for Health complex in Forest Park Southeast, The James in Kirkwood, and the Edge District at Lafayette Square.

There are many other projects they’ve been involved with here but I don’t know them all.

Mark Groth is your man to talk about city schools