MULTIMODAL
St. Louis, Mo

Situated at the northern edge of an urban site, this building faces exceptional views of downtown St. Louis. Additionally, it can be seen from the Highway 40 elevated courseway and the west bound access ramp onto the highway.Under these parameters, the building is exposed significantly to either the car or pedestrian.Its footprint is informed by the motion of the traffic flow and its section by the five different levels that make it up.Its two fundamental components, the eastern facade and the roof, endorse the complex urban conditions previously mentioned. The east facade, perceived from the Metrolink ramps, the Kiel Auditorium and the west bound pedestrian, will have the role of a “gate” into this complex. By appearing as a vertical single plane made of glass and extruded polycarbon panels, it will glow at night, becoming a true marker for the site.

The shadow on the eastern elevation arrived late, although not unexpectedly: it was the missing component required to complete within the project what we thought to be its most intimate condition of gate, window , hall, lantern, wall, balcony. Once placed, and quickly adopting the shape of a wing which hides a stair, which is an “x” , which also means ‘exchange’, which suggests motion, it was possible to regress and place our attention to the task of properly connecting the five levels, allocating for retail space and designing a roof.

The roof ,conceived as a single plane,is made of standing seam panels and curves on the west side becoming the west facade. At the north edge, a terrace overlooking downtown follows the pedestrian ramp towards 15th st., to the south the Building becomes a concourse linkage with the Amtrak/Greyhound Terminal.This linkage continues the formal principles of the Concourse Bldg.,with a glass facade on its eastern side and a curved metal roof to insure continuity.

By sitting along the Metrolink railroad line, these buildings define the edge of a large open area and instill it with a strong architectural character, bringing to the site a concrete sense of place. As a connector between metro, bus, train, car, anything else would have been insufficient. Which makes sense, if you realize that due to its preminent position in the site, this building will have two facades only, (one fast and other slow; one vertical and another horizontal, one reflective and another translucent), but many voices, roles , users, Identities.