Mid-century motel receives top to bottom makeover.

Like one of the last kids picked for a team, 1133 Washington was one of the few undeveloped buildings in St. Louis’ loft district. Amid its older, statelier neighbors, the building was dull at best, an eyesore at worst. Once a Days Inn Motel, this Downtown St. Louis building was long past its mid-century prime when Bruce Development Company tapped E.M. Harris to give it new life. Financed with both historic preservation and low-income housing tax credits, this adaptive reuse project transformed the building into an attractive, 95-unit apartment building, including street-level restaurant spaces. Scope included roof replacement, new windows and façade, improvements to underground parking lots, new elevators, HVAC systems and kitchens, updates to bathrooms, and all new interior finishes.