St. Louis CITY SC is showing off its newly-completed headquarters building by Union Station, but what impact is the expanding MLS stadium campus having on the greater downtown neighborhood?
"There's lots of really cool things coming," says Lee Broughton, the team's Chief Brand Architect. "The Butler Brothers [building renovation] is open; that's called the Victor now. Fabulous place where there's about 400 residences. New hotels going up. New restaurants going online. There's a lot of momentum and we're super excited."
The historic building by Union Station and Highway 40 which is now the team's offices has been completely renovated.
It was built in 1918, was a generator manufacturing plant, more recently a climbing gym, but now, with MetroLink trains snaking around its footprint, the building by Union Station is home to the new soccer team's offices.
KMOX/Michael Calhoun
KMOX/Michael Calhoun
The building's new moniker, "SoMa House," is a nod to its location south of Market Street. 100 team employees work from there. A wall was taken out to build in huge windows which provide panoramic views of everything north of Market, reminding workers why the team was given its name.
Those new windows architecturally correspond to the club at the stadium across the street. Other intentional synergies include ceiling tiles which match the perforated aesthetic of the stadium canopy soffit.
KMOX/Michael Calhoun
KMOX/Michael Calhoun
A wall of a meeting nook is entirely covered with soccer scarves from teams around the world. Technology was a major consideration. The entire campus is on one, singular data network. The new office building includes a broadcast studio and e-gaming lounge.
KMOX/Michael Calhoun
KMOX/Michael Calhoun
KMOX/Michael Calhoun
KMOX/Michael Calhoun
KMOX/Michael Calhoun
