Architecture Archives - Page 2 of 4

Kairos Academy 9th Grade Expansion

Posted on December 10, 2024

Kairos Academies, a Saint Louis-based charter school, partnered with Bush Construction to design and build an 18,000-square-foot 9th grade expansion that supported rapid enrollment growth—without disrupting daily school operations.

Delivered on an accelerated 10-week summer schedule, the project was completed in time for the new school year, ensuring continuity for students, staff, and families while allowing the school to grow in a financially and operationally responsible way.

Design-Build Solutions for Enrollment-Driven School Growth

Kairos Academies’ long-term growth strategy required facilities that could expand alongside enrollment while maintaining a strong student experience. Bush Construction provided integrated development, architecture, and construction services, allowing early planning, fast decision-making, and schedule certainty.

By completing design, permitting, and preconstruction in advance, construction began immediately when school recessed for summer—minimizing risk, compressing timelines, and protecting the academic calendar.

Adaptive Reuse that Supports Learning & Longevity

The expansion is located within the historic Concordia Publishing House, an underutilized office and warehouse building already housing Kairos’ middle school grades. Bush Construction helped repurpose existing space into modern, student-centered learning environments—leveraging high ceilings, abundant natural light, and durable materials to balance character, performance, and long-term stewardship.

The project includes:

New classrooms and flexible collaboration zones
A renovated cafeteria supporting daily student use
Gender-neutral restrooms promoting inclusivity
Refurbished historic wood block flooring selected for durability and character

These design decisions enhanced learning, visibility, and supervision while supporting the school’s educational philosophy.

Built Around School Operations & Stakeholder Confidence

Every decision—from sequencing to material selection—was guided by three priorities:
operational continuity, budget responsibility, and student experience.

The result was a smooth, on-time delivery that:

Supported enrollment growth without operational disruption
Protected leadership credibility with families and stakeholders
Created flexible spaces that adapt as programs evolve

Lafayette Preparatory Academy

Posted on December 10, 2024

Phase 1 – Renovation of Classroom Buildings of Historic Lafayette Church

23,000SF

Lafayette Preparatory Academy is a top-ranked St. Louis City charter school and its reputation continues to grow. Their facility is in the prominent and beautiful neighborhood of Lafayette Square, near downtown. They came to us when they found a building in the area that they were trying to serve – the historic Lafayette Church at the northeast corner of Lafayette Square Park. The building had a lot of potential – though not a lot of land – and that worked for the school from a location and financial perspective. We were able to help with the development of the building, including acquisition, financing, deployment of incentives, and planning.

In order to meet the schedule the school needed to begin holding classes in the building, we divided the project into two phases. The first phase was the 23,000sf renovation of two of the old Sunday School classroom buildings. Both of historic significance, one was built in the 1940s and the other in the 1960s, and both were in terrible shape having been vacant for several years. The design team worked with the school leadership and staff to re-purpose the space into light-filled and spacious classrooms, a library, offices, and cafeteria / multi-purpose room. Once complete, the Lafayette Preparatory Academy began using the facility and we began to prepare for Phase 2. Interestingly, the 1940s building had been designed to have two more stories added to it, but the plan was never carried out. With such little space on the site to build, the challenge for Phase 2 was to fit several more middle school classrooms and a gym on the site.

Phase 2 – Middle School Addition and Gym Addition

16,500SF

After completing Phase 1 – renovation of the classroom buildings – we began planning for Phase 2, which was decidedly more complicated. The design team was able to squeeze a two-story classroom building between the historic church and the 1960s building, and connect the floors. We also designed and engineered the addition of a full-sized gym on top of the existing 1940s building. The original plans for the building called for a vertical addition of two more floors of classrooms. Ultimately we were able to add the gym and successfully navigate the code changes that were made.

Being in a historic district, the new construction portions of the project faced regulatory challenges and approvals required by City guidelines. We were able to work with the neighborhood and the Preservation Board to design a beautiful addition to the neighborhood and a functional facility for the school.

Marian Middle School Phase 2

Posted on December 10, 2024

After successfully completing the Phase 1 Stem Center, Library and Cafeteria, Marian Middle School began the process of a major renovation to their campus including the historic classroom building and their recreational building, a mid-century structure with a gym, locker rooms, classrooms, kitchen, and chapel. It had been decades since significant work had been done to either building and Marian Middle School was in need of core, shell and systems modernization, and code compliance work, as well as a cosmetic refresh – flooring, casework, lighting, plumbing, painting, lab and classroom space. Our development team led them through the process of financing, fund-raising and deploying incentives, such as historic tax credits.

Renovations were completed on a tight schedule primarily over the summer so the students could be back in the buildings for the fall semester.

Marian Middle School Phase 1

Posted on December 10, 2024

We were introduced to Marian Middle School when they needed help renovating their lower level into a STEM Center and Library, and renovating their existing cafeteria. The existing lower level was semi-open, already housing their small cafeteria and kitchen, but there were also two classrooms that were underutilized and needed updating. The vision of the principal was to create a modern and flexible space that was bright, colorful, and collaborative… And not so basement-y.

Our Design–Construction teams worked with the staff and the students to program the space and developed a detailed plan to add a science lab, a maker space, and a library that would open up to the cafeteria. We installed and operable glass wall between the library and cafeteria, adding flexibility to both spaces and bringing more light into the cafeteria space. The finishes are colorful and cheerful and the furniture varies from standard tables and chairs to lounges and beanbags, providing an atmosphere that feels somewhere between a cool “start-up” and a school.

Clementine’s Creamery

Posted on December 10, 2024

After completing a small permitting set for an interior renovation at another location, the owner of Clementine’s Creamery asked us to help her design and build her first “ground-up” location in South City. Initially, we tried to preserve a small building on the site, but after determining it was not structurally adequate, we were forced to remove it, keeping only part of the rubble foundation.

The result was a one-story brick building that was reflective of the Clementine’s “not your typical ice cream parlor” brand. Vintage parlor characteristics like tiny, square black and white tiles, delicate cafe tables inside and out, and a symmetrical, classic turn-of-the-century building shape are part of the design, but known for its boozy, (naughty) flavors, we put a twist on the typical St. Louis red brick. Two sheens of black brick in a clad the front facade, creating frames around the doors and windows and a diamond pattern that can be seen as the light shifts throughout the day.

We worked with the owner to get all of the details right on the aesthetics and the functionality of the space. The serving, kitchen, storage and queuing areas were meticulously thought out for the best customer experience.

Garcia Properties: Headquarters & Multifamily

Posted on December 10, 2024

This adaptive-reuse transforms a historic auto dealership and showroom into the headquarters for the Garcia Properties, a local real estate developer and construction company. The first floor is an open office space with 15 apartments above.

To maximize flexibility and capitalize on an underserved market in St. Louis, the owner suggested micro-apartments. After exploring more conventional unit arrangements, it was discovered that a self-contained, furniture-like pod including a kitchen, bath, and storage was conducive to semi-transient dwellers, made a more interesting distinction between existing and new, and created an opportunity for an economy of scale for the developer – most of the pods are the same and only change orientation.

The design takes advantage of the existing structure including a concrete ramp- historically used to get cars to the roof- heavy concrete slabs, and rhythmic distribution of structure. While many of the units reference a mechanical sameness, drawing upon the industrial past of the building, the ramp creates a situation in the penthouse for a more unique apartment. The unit is tiered over three plateaus that lead to a roof deck and separate studio with city views.

The renovation included a complete restoration of the building exterior. All of the historic window openings had been made smaller with masonry, and non-historic replacement windows, and covered by large awnings. Now, the exterior features windows that revive the design and transparency of the original structure.

Gadellnet

Posted on December 10, 2024

The new Gadellnet headquarters are located in the completely renovated and re-purposed Lunar Tool Building in the Botanical Heights Neighborhood. Gadellnet, a start-up IT company was looking for an office space that would work well for day-to-day workplace functions, and that would also be a differentiator when it came to recruiting new employees. The Lunar Tool Building was made up of two different warehouse buildings from different decades and both qualified for Historic Tax Credits.

The Gadellnet clients, three partners – were looking for open concept work space, flexible open space to accommodate large and small collaborative meetings, as well as conference rooms and offices of different sizes. Additionally, they needed a gym, and indoor and outdoor recreational space, and a large kitchen/bar area for employees and entertaining new clients. We incorporated many of the interesting features of the existing building into the design, maintaining the warehouse feel with large, glass garage doors, exposed brick, factory windows, exposed steel structure, and barn-style dock doors. An old crane became part of the structure that holds up one end of a new mezzanine in the space.

In addition to creating and building a unique design for the workspace, we worked with the client to develop the property, guiding them through a develop-to-suit process that included acquisition, financing, and incentives.

227 North Lindbergh

Posted on December 10, 2024

Our team completed exterior and interior renovations of this 1980s single-user building on Lindbergh in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Starting with a modest building that appeared fit for a Miami Vice episode, we reshaped the building through the addition of a large light monitor and new windows throughout, with a large canopy clad in a custom cedar veneer.

This one of a kind property is available for office, medical, or retail use. Contact Brent Crittenden for more details.

Montessori Training Center

Posted on December 10, 2024

Situated at 3854 Washington Avenue in Grand Center, this new facility will both train future teachers and certify them in Montessori education. It will also have a school on-site in which experience teachers and teachers in training will work with infants and Toddlers.

Montessori education and instruction emphasizes independence as well as a respect for a child’s natural development. Part of Montessori training includes teaching young children to clean-up after themselves but also to take turns serving their fellow classmates. Low cabinets and sinks were installed at the center so that children aged 3-5 can wash plates and prepare meals.

The Montessori Training Center is another welcome addition to the ever-developing Grand Center area, and we were excited to be a part of this redevelopment. We will continue to work with The Montessori Training Center as they complete their master plan in Grand Center.

Tower Grove Mews

Posted on December 10, 2024

A rough-shod conglomeration of buildings, the Tower Grove Mews historic stable complex had lots of potential, but was so dark and full of junk, it was hard to imagine. Once we were able to clean out the buildings, we discovered a pretty amazing space in the stable-turned-warehouse. And ultimately, we completely rebuilt that part of the structure after discovering that the roof was held up by storage pallets stacked high. The old stable space formerly housed our St. Louis office, and has since been converted to apartments. There are also three other storefront retail spaces, a restaurant space, and 10 loft-style apartments – all surrounding an open space that accommodates some required parking spots, but also made a charming courtyard, conducive to some great music and festival events.

With exposed brickwork and ceilings, sealed concrete floors, and a number of features from the building’s former use left in place, the one and two bedroom apartments are very unique, full of character, and are what you might imagine when you think of a loft apartment. Exposed brick and timber trusses, full-wall glass garage doors, and old machinery make up some of the features of the apartments.

The project was a development, design, build effort by our team. We worked with the City of St. Louis to complete the design and with the state of Missouri on completing the requirements necessary to receive Historic Tax Credits.