WINNER — Best new development
Anyone hesitant to return to work because of possible contamination need not worry in the year-old Edge@West office building in Creve Coeur.
The $34 million building has a host of germ-killing features, including plasma-filtered HVAC systems to kill bacteria, viruses and microorganisms, large open stairwells, touchless entry doors, bathrooms with push each way access to avoid touching handles and hand sanitizing stations throughout the building.
Edge@West also offers private huddle rooms and sound proof phone booths, a social distancing friendly fitness center and coffee bar, electric car charging stations, an outdoor putting green and half basketball court, large outdoor seating areas and hi-speed Wi-Fi access in the public areas.
Built at 12645 Olive Blvd., the four-story, 125,000-square-foot building was completed in January 2021 and was about 86% leased in January 2022. An adjacent 146-space parking structure opened in July 2021, offering covered parking.
When Larry Chapman, president and CEO of Seneca CRE, began development of the site, he wanted to help tenants attract the brightest employees with a design that supports companies’ ability to collaborate. What he didn’t necessarily expect was how many of the decisions being made would turn out to make the Edge@West development a prime example of post-pandemic office design.
About this project
Owner/developer: Seneca Commercial Real Estate LLC
Address: 12645 Olive Blvd., St. Louis
Cost: $34 million
Financing: Enterprise Bank & Trust and Peoples Bank; a combination of $27.6 million of bank loans, $3 million mezzanine financing loan, personal financing and a $3.2 million property-assessed clean energy (PACE) loan. Ten years of partial tax abatement through the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s Chapter 100 Bond program to save sales taxes on construction materials.
General contractor: Clayco
Broker: CBRE – Tom Ray
Engineer: Stock and Associates (civil); Alper Audi Inc. (structural)
Interior designer: Lamar Johnson Collaborative; HOK; Gastinger Walker; Lawrence Group; BSA Life Structures
Architect: Lamar Johnson Collaborative
