Cannon Design Regional Offices, Power House: St. Louis, MO

Restoring Power

Cannon Design repurposed an 85-year-old steam building in St. Louis for its regional offices by adding two floor plates to what was essentially an empty shell. The cantilever floor design eliminates the need to heat and cool along the perimeter, while the 26 ft tall arched windows allow for plenty of natural light to enter into the interior spaces. Thermally efficient glass replaces the windows in the original masonry; the exposed ceiling showcases the mechanical systems; and a former coal yard is now an urban garden with a rainwater collection system. Total annual costs of facility operations are the lowest (on a dollar per square foot basis) of all of the 17 Cannon Design offices worldwide.