Significant MEPFP Upgrades to Modernize St. Louis' Convention Center Facilities

KAI Engineering was hired to expand and upgrade this jointly funded project between the City of St. Louis and Explore St. Louis. The goal was to modernize and enlarge the existing Cervantes Convention Center in the America’s Center complex to keep St. Louis competitive with convention facilities in other regions of the country.

The project included expansion to the amount and functionality of contiguous exhibit space by 92,000 SF, construction of a new 65,000 SF ground floor ballroom and 22,000 SF adjacent service and support facilities, and construction of a new outdoor plaza adjacent to the ballroom. The interior of the Cervantes Center and the Washington Avenue entrance was modernized and improved in addition to the expansion of and enhanced functionality of the Cole Street loading docks.

The mechanical design included a new 1,400 ton chiller plant, new 7.5 MBH boiler plant, replacement of two (2) existing 50,000 CFM air handling units (AHUs), replacement of two (2) existing 13.8 KV sub-stations, three (3) new 13.8 KV substations, new AHUs, new energy recovery unit (ERU) and a new 2,000 GPM fire pump.

Utility Relocation

The expansion of the Center was built on a former parking garage and also required construction work on two city blocks. This development involved significant utility relocations and public street improvements, including the removal of a street block and the narrowing of Cole Street to accommodate a new enclosed loading dock. KAI Engineering collaborated closely with the Civil Engineering firm and Fentress Architects to ensure the safe and proper relocation of utilities impacted by the expansion into public streets, coordinating efforts to maintain infrastructure integrity while supporting the project’s overall goals.

Eliminating Disruptions to Building Operations

The original chiller plant was not equipped to support the expanded Convention Center, prompting KAI’s Engineering team to design a new, larger chiller plant that could be constructed without interrupting existing operations. To ensure continuous functionality, they engineered connections between the new and existing chiller plants, allowing one system to seamlessly support the other during maintenance or service shutdowns. This carefully coordinated design minimized disruptions throughout construction and ensured reliable climate control for the facility.

Value Through Engineering

KAI Engineering designed a separate boiler plant for the Center’s addition and incorporated modifications such as updated gas lines and seismic shut-off valves. Throughout the design process, the team collaborated with Factory Mutual (FM Global) to ensure the project met their stringent guidelines—surpassing standard code requirements. By aligning with FM Global’s quality standards, the design not only addressed long-standing items on Explore St. Louis’ wish list but also brought added value to the client by enhancing the facility’s appeal to new clients and reducing insurance premiums.