Constructing while Maintaining a Historic Presence

KAI was selected to design the new 9,000 SF Tower Grove Banking Center to complement the surrounding historic south St. Louis neighborhood.

The history of the Tower Grove area was integrated into the exterior courtyard with the design of a Sassafras grove and water feature reminiscent of Henry Shaw’s original Tower Grove House for which it was named. The theme was accented on the exterior with Sassafras leaves embossed onto a masonry panel and on the interior with similar decorative treatment including the use of Sassafras wood for veneer and paneling. The predominant exterior material is brick masonry.

A tower building element with renaissance stone exterior cladding signals the entrance to the facility from both Grand Avenue and the parking lot on the interior. The tower also serves as a “lighthouse” for Commerce with a backlit-illumniated globe visible from three sides. Modern design elements, such as day-lighting, maximize the amount of natural light entering the building.