Old Post Office / Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District • St. Louis, Missouri

Built in 1872-1884 and designed by Alfred Mullett, an architect of the Old Executive Office Building in Washington DC, the Old Post Office was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968 and gained National Monument status in 2004. The project rehabilitated the original architectural integrity obscured by modifications over the last 120 years, upgraded the building systems to 21st Century standards, and provided interior improvements to accommodate 11 new tenants; the largest being the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District.

Though the Missouri Court of Appeals and Webster University were identified as major tenants early on, large portions remained unassigned. This situation required creating a secure perimeter to the courts while providing flexibility for several different tenant scenarios.

The greatest challenge in the restoration and adaptive reuse of this historic landmark was to adequately address the restoration of historic elements while planning a state-of-the-art courts facility and integrating judges’ chamber security and secure paths as well as mechanical, electrical, and life safety systems into the building. The unique historic character of the building had to be balanced against the specialized requirements for security, work flow, and efficiency of a modern court.

Creativity was required in establishing a court en banc in a space not intended for 14 judges. Critical secure paths presented a further challenge and were addressed by utilizing an existing interior stage and incorporating protective glass systems in spaces to provide security yet openness.

The hallmark of the judges’ private offices is the original marble fireplaces and 18 foot high ceilings. A central atrium runs through the center of the building from the roof, down to the basement level, and provides daylight to deep interior spaces of the Court offices and corridors.

Historic public structures were built on elevated bases to project authority and strength. Our renovation leaves the main south entry untouched to respect history, but adds a new access ramp for disabled individuals to the west entry. The new west entry is also the main entry for all people coming to the building from the newly-built adjacent garage.

oWner

St ..Louis U .S ..Custom House & Post Office Building Associates, L .P . St .Louis, Missouri

architect of record

Trivers Associates St. Louis, Missouri

landscape architect

Spaid Associates St. Louis, Missouri

Civil engineer

Kowelman Engineering St. Louis, Missouri

structural / mechanical engineer

EDM, Incorporated St. Louis, Missouri

lighting design

Randy Burkett Lighting Design, Inc. St. Louis, Missouri

Courts Consultant

HOK St. Louis, Missouri

General Contractor

BSI Constructors St. Louis, Missouri

photographer

Fentress Photography St. Louis, Missouri Bob Shimer, Hedrich Blessing Chicago, Illinois Completion date: 2006 Construction Cost: $22.89 million (Total Project); $ 5.14 million (Court of Appeals) Type of Court: Appellate

Building area:

Court of Appeals - 72,324 GSF; 40,207 NAA, Total Project - 242,377 GSF Finance method: General Funds, Private Financing delivery method: Design / Bid / Build, Single Prime Contract Type of Construction: Renovation leed Certificate: None