New Life for the Historic Vashon Community Center
Originally built in 1936, the Vashon Community Center was a vital recreational hub for African Americans in St. Louis during the segregation era. However, the historic building, built in the restrained Art Deco style, sat vacant for many years.
In 1999, Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) took ownership of the building from the City of St. Louis and began their efforts to preserve and restore the structure, which now sits on their campus. The National Park Service awarded a grant to HSSU in 2009 aimed at preserving significant historic structures on historically Black college and university campuses. Those funds in combination with state funds made a $3 million renovation of the Vashon Community Center finally possible.
Today, the historic building celebrates black culture and diversity with its transformation into the Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute and National Black Radio Hall of Fame. KAI provided comprehensive services for this project, including facility assessment, planning, programming, architecture, MEP/FP engineering and historic preservation consulting.
The building’s exterior now features a new entrance on the north side that incorporates a stairwell and elevator. Period-style windows, designed to match the building’s original plans, replaced previous infilled openings, and new entrance doors enhance the historical aesthetics. The original gymnasium was restored and now serves as a multi-functional museum space.
The 16,000-square-foot building is strategically located at the terminus of the Brickline Greenway’s latest segment, under construction along Market Street. This 0.85-mile segment will connect pedestrians and cyclists to the broader Greenway project, a public-private partnership that includes public art installations commemorating the Mill Creek Valley neighborhood.
Photography by Tom Paule
- Services
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Mechanical Engineering, Engineering, Design, Facility Assessment, Fire Protection Engineering, Planning, Programming, Schematic Design, Plumbing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Interior Design, Architecture
“KAI’s commitment to preserving and enhancing this historic building is evident in every aspect of the design. The result is a dynamic space that honors the past while serving the future.”
The Impact
Preserving the Past
When the Vashon Community Center was built in 1936, it was one of only four recreational facilities accessible to Black St. Louisans. Located in the vibrant, urban Mill Creek Valley area, it was funded by a City bond issue along with a grant for the U.S. Public Works Administration. The Vashon Community Center was designed by Albert A. Osburg and is notable for its decorative brickwork and carved limestone accents. The preservation of this building, located on the campus of the only HBCU in St. Louis, is an important part of the preservation of Black history in this community.
