St. Louis is in the process of regeneration and immense population growth. This is due to its friendly neighborhoods, striking architecture, and low cost of living. Known as the Gateway to the West, St. Louis contains iconic structures such as the Gateway Arch. The city has been home to famous icons such as Maya Angelou and Tina Turner. To accommodate the city’s increasing population, numerous multifamily structures are being built.
The list below includes eight outstanding architects who contribute to the city’s architecture. All members of the American Institute of Architects, these architects are both recognized by the press and award-giving bodies. In the industry for one to six decades, these architects have compiled an impressive portfolio covering residential projects in St. Louis and surrounding areas.
HOK
10 South Broadway, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63102
Established in 1955, HOK is the most senior firm on the list, and in its sixty-six years, it has expanded into a global company. It has twenty-three studios scattered around three continents. These offices operate under one vision: to respond to the people and the environment’s needs. As a large organization, this vision is executed under the supervision of superb leaders.
In its St. Louis office, the firm is headed by Angelo Arzano and Eli Hoisington. Arzano, the firm’s managing principal, is a proud member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury. His expertise covers technical architecture and building information modeling. He has been part of designing some of the world’s most iconic structures, including the One World Trade Center. Hoisington is the St. Louis office’s design principal. He is an alumnus of Syracuse University, and like Arzano, he has expertise in using BIM. As a LEED AP, Hoisington focuses on sustainable design practices.
Under excellent leadership, the firm has provided outstanding architecture, design, and engineering services. It has offered its technical expertise for different markets, including aviation and transportation, health care, and residential. For its residential projects, the firm has offered professional services to the award-winning Grand Flats Apartments. Recipient of the AIA St. Louis Award of Merit, the project is a transformation of a formerly abandoned site into a lively residential community. Located in the heart of St. Louis’ busy district, the residential development was designed with the neighborhood in mind. The firm has successfully connected the building with the location’s streets, adding safe pedestrian pathways and necessary greenery and landscaping. The L-shaped five-story building contains 124 accommodation units with access to common areas like an indoor lounge, a garden, and an outdoor pool.
With a worldwide influence, HOK is one of the best architects in St. Louis. Its reputation is unparalleled, and it has been recognized in The New York Times, Engineering News-Record, and The Business Journals.
JEMA
2823 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63103
Founded in 2010, JEMA is a decade-old firm that builds inspiring architecture through collaboration. It is built through a team of expert architectural designers, project managers, and interior designers guided by company founder and managing principal John Mueller. A University of Kansas alumnus, Mueller, NCARB, LEED AP, is a talented architect with award-winning projects. His reputation is strengthened by handling high-profile, complex projects that require mastery in different aspects of architecture. Mueller’s expertise covers corporate, civic, as well as residential and multifamily projects. He is involved in each of the firm’s projects, offering his mastery in building sustainable spaces and communities.
One of the firm’s expertly executed projects is the Mofo Urban Residences in St. Louis. For the project, the firm has designed a three-story mixed-use facility containing both commercial and residential spaces. Engaging the community, the ground floor entices passers-by to take a look and shop at the building’s 6,000-square-foot retail area. Residents engage in the neighborhood and the environment through the balconies surrounding the building. Tenants also enjoy exclusive amenities, including a bike repair and storage center and a fitness center. This outstanding project is a finalist in the STL Magazine Architect and Designer Awards 2021.
Aside from award-giving bodies, the firm has been recognized by the press, including St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis Magazine, and FOX 2.
CORE10 Architecture
4501 Lindell Blvd. 1A, St. Louis, MO 63108
Partnership is the heart of CORE10 Architecture. In 2007, Tyler Stephens and Michael Byrd joined forces to create a firm that would make some great architecture. The firm combines the two founders’ expertise in creating magic in architecture. Byrd is an expert in retail and adaptive reuse, while Stephens focuses on residential and mixed-use urban projects. Together, they build exceptional designs suitable for urban environments, which encompass commercial establishments and multifamily homes. Under Byrd and Stephens’ leadership, the firm has built many multifamily units and condominiums in the Midwest, all with their concept of Design for Living.
The Pearl Apartments – Clayton, MO
A perfect example of the firm’s many multifamily projects is The Hutton, in Kirkwood, Missouri. This is the third and final upscale, mid-rise condominium development on Madison Avenue. This project includes 12 luxury residences with spacious terraces, large windows, grand floor plans, and a modern exterior style that compliments the two prior developments on the block – the Madison and the Barclay – both designed by CORE10 Architecture. As the Kirkwood affinity for outdoor living space continues to thrive, they opted to include two penthouse floors instead of one, which provides additional rooftop terraces as the building steps up. To contribute to the existing walkable downtown Kirkwood culture, their plans also include the installation of a six-foot-wide sidewalk along the Madison corridor.
Over the last few decades, Byrd and Stephens’ partnership has evolved, and the firm has received praise from various organizations. In 2016 it was awarded an AIA St. Louis Award Citation for Greentree Community Church and in 2018 their project for Central Presbyterian Church earned a Craftsmanship Firm Merit Award for masonry. Their future includes new multi-family, historic renovation, and healthcare projects throughout the Saint Louis area, Nashville, and Bentonville.
V Three Studios
2717 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, MO 63143
Established in 2010, V Three Studios has a team of incredible thinkers, doers, and problem-solvers. Kurt Kerns, the firm’s founder and principal, directs the team. Kerns is a Kansas State University graduate who is registered in 20 states. He has thirty years of industry experience and a strong passion for architecture and design. Included in the “40 under 40” list of St. Louis Business Journal, Kerns is considered one of the most influential leaders in the community. His credibility earned the trust of many top companies including CBS and Boeing.
The firm provides top-notch architecture and design services to clients in St. Louis and across the country. Its inspired designs have earned several awards including the AIA St. Louis Merit Award 2018. With features in The Washington Post, Entrepreneur Quarterly STL, and Radio World, the firm’s popularity continues to grow.
One of the firm’s top multifamily projects in St. Louis is the Grove Lofts. For the project, V Three Studios provided a contemporary design fit for its urban location. In partnership with Restoration St. Louis, Inc., the firm created a multifamily structure that is connected to the streetscape. A retail area is located on the ground floor, surrounded by an aluminum-framed glazed storefront. Residential units from the second to fifth floors contain balconies to provide light indoors and a connection to the outdoor space. The project has been featured in St. Louis Business Journal and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Killeen Studio Architects
3015 Salena St., St. Louis, MO 63118
Founded by husband and wife Anne and Mike Killeen, Killeen Studio Architects provides creativity in design and outstanding customer service. It is selective on projects, giving each the careful attention it deserves. Through this approach, the firm ensures that a project has the right staff and high-level architectural services are given. A full-service firm, Killeen Studio Architects has mastery in architectural design, engineering, and construction. With licenses in Missouri, Texas, and Illinois, the firm serves both the residential and commercial sectors.
Included in the firm’s many multifamily projects is the Loftworks Mixed-use Renovation. Located in St. Louis, the project is a transformation of a historic building into a residential and retail space. By creating a green roof system and using sustainable materials, the project has achieved a LEED certification. The use of energy-efficient storefronts and sunshades on the upper floors improve heat and light flow into the structure. Its white color makes it stand among other structures in the neighborhood.
Projects like Loftworks demonstrate Anne and Mike Killeen’s mastery of sustainable designs and historic preservation Because of its exceptional designs, the firm has built a strong reputation. 2019, the firm was a finalist in overall home design in the St.Louis Architecture and Design Awards. Publications like St. Louis Magazine, Emissourian, and The Business Journals have featured the firm.
Urban Improvement Conglomerate, LLC
1607 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
Urban Improvement Conglomerate’s focuses on progressive designs, providing holistic solutions for commercial and residential projects. It utilizes its team’s expertise in urban design, architecture, real estate, and construction in order to do so. Among its many specializations, the firm focuses primarily on urban improvement. Since its founding in 2005, the firm has improved urban neighborhoods in Missouri and Illinois.
One of the firm’s innovative projects is 4321 Manchester. Built in St. Louis, the project features a contemporary style using zinc panels and bricks on the facade. Containing twenty apartment units with private balconies, the multifamily facility encourages the city’s resurgence. With commercial spaces on the ground floor, the building is one of the new exciting structures in the neighborhood.
For outstanding designs and services, the firm has gained many achievements, including the 2016 award for Developer of the Year. The firm is proud to be featured in St. Louis Post-Dispatch magazine. The firm’s leader, CEO Brent Crittenden, has a master’s degree from the Berlage Institute in the Netherlands and a bachelor’s from Kansas State University. Crittenden serves his clients and the community around him. He is a member of the Luminary Center for the Arts and the Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
Jeff Day & Associates, LLC
14311 Manchester Rd., St. Louis, MO 63011
Established in 2006, Jeff Day & Associates’ focus is on sustainable designs. The firm believes design impacts the environment and vice versa. It also believes elements such as natural views and lighting are crucial factors when it comes to design. It considers solar orientation and utilizes sustainable finishes to protect the environment. By adopting responsibility for its environmental impacts, the firm earns immense praise from clients who would like to lessen their carbon footprints and select more environmentally friendly designs.
Leading the firm in its sustainable efforts is owner Jeff Day, member of the Association of Licensed Architects. This experienced architect designed the first certified green home in St. Louis. Starting the firm with mastery in residential builds, Day has continuously expanded his knowledge and became an expert in commercial projects. His vast experience includes developments of apartment complexes, condominiums, and corporate offices. Over the years, Day has led the firm, which has received recognitions from various organizations and publications. The firm has received mention in St. Louis Homes and Lifestyles, EcoHome, and Architect Magazine. It has won many recognitions, including the HBA Homer award.
One of the firm’s most impressive projects is the Cantwell Crossing Apartments. The complex is designed to deliver efficiency and convenience. Residents can conveniently park right in front of their homes, and they don’t have to travel far to enjoy a day with the family since the facility has an outdoor pool and spacious yard. Indoors, each apartment unit features a fully-equipped kitchen and a fireplace.
St. Louis Design Alliance
5897 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112
Since its inception in 1977, St. Louis Design Alliance has focused on residential projects. From designing single-family and multi-family homes to improving older and historical ones, the firm has accomplished an immense amount in the residential arena.
One of the firm’s multifamily projects is The Washington Building. Located in St. Louis, the three-story building has a traditional style that reflects the neighborhood’s history. The brick panels and the shingles used in the roof emphasize this style. Because various windows surround the building, each residential unit indoors contains sufficient lighting for a comfortable, efficient living situation.
The firm also designs for commercial and religious sectors. These projects are handled by the firm’s professional staff with architectural degrees. Leading the team is Jeff McGee, AIA, LEED AP BD-C. The firm’s current president, McGee is a respectable architect that has been with the company for sixteen years. A University of Missouri-Saint Louis graduate, McGee guides the team in consistently delivering exceptional services for clients in St. Louis and surrounding areas.
Because of its expertise in historic preservation, St. Louis Design Alliance earned the 2000 Landmarks of St. Louis Preservation Award. The firm has been featured in the Columbia Missourian and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
