Renovation of a 225-unit, Mid-town high rise near Saint Louis University—yes, the building with the sculpture.

Coming out of downtown St. Louis west on Highway 40, it’s hard to miss the historic Council Tower building—the one with the mid-century modern façade sculpture. Built immediately east of Saint Louis University in 1969, this 27-story building now provides 50 studio units and 175 one-bedroom units for seniors and persons with disabilities. Our renovation of the building, which received HUD financing and both low-income housing and historic preservation tax credits, included modernization of three passenger elevators, electrical system upgrades, new plumbing and HVAC systems, window replacements on both elevations, new interior finishes, including painting, flooring, and cabinets, and site improvements. All renovations occurred with tenants remaining in the building, making construction even more challenging. The project also included the complete recreation of Saunders Schultz's and William Severson’s original masonry sculpture "Finite-Infinite" on the east facade. Working from two platforms attached to sturdy hoists was scary enough and gave us profound respect for Saunders Schultz, who drew the original sculpture on the building while suspended on little more than a boatswain’s chair. It gets very windy up there! Read more about the project in a St. Louis Post Dispatch article.