Cannon Design

Concluding a two-year search, Cannon Design purchased the Power House, a landmark 19,000 sf building in downtown St. Louis, as the new headquarters for the firm’s St. Louis offices. Constructed in 1926 to generate steam heat for nearby municipal buildings, the Power House, easily recognized by its tall, arched windows on three street façades and fine terra cotta detailing, had sat vacant for 25 years. The $8 million adaptive reuse project strikes a synergy with other exciting downtown St. Louis developments such as Ballpark Village and Cupples District and achieved LEED Gold certification in 2009.

The revamped Power House features a three-story interior gallery formed by constructing two partial levels that, combined with the existing two floors and rooftop penthouse, create a total of 32,000 sf of office and conference space designed to facilitate Cannon Design’s highly collaborative, team-oriented work approach. The new floors are set back from the building’s spectacular windows to maintain the building’s sense of transparency and volume. The interior, essentially an empty shell, was completely rehabilitated, with installation of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical infrastructure. External modifications include historically accurate replacement of windows in their original masonry openings and creation of a 3,500 sf urban garden.

• Brownfield redevelopment of former steam generation plant preserves green space
• 3,500 sf garden with native Missouri vegetation planted in former coal yard
• Building is accessible via public bus and commuter rail lines serving downtown St. Louis
• Indoor bicycle storage encourages alternative transportation
• No new parking was developed for project
• Stormwater is collected in underground cistern for irrigation
• Light-colored roofing reduces heat-island effect

• 30% of building materials contain recycled content, exceeding LEED standards
• Renewable energy credits remove 360 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually

• Indoor air quality management plan, carbon dioxide monitoring, no-smoking policy, and low-VOC paints, carpets, adhesives, and sealants maintain high indoor air quality
• 75% of spaces have access to natural daylight

• Dedicated storage and collection area provided for recyclable materials
• 100% of existing walls, floors, and roof are reused
• 75% of collected construction waste was recycled or reused

*At least 10% of building materials are regionally manufactured

• Refrigerants are free of ozone-depleting CFCs
• Energy costs are reduced more than 38% from ASHRAE standard
• Insulated, low-E coated glass reduces energy consumption
• Translucent glass roof monitors admit daylight while reducing heat gain
• Green power credits support grid-source renewable energy technology

• Irrigation of garden with captured rainwater avoids potable water use
• High-efficiency plumbing fixtures reduce water usage by 30%

• Office and conference space
• Three-story interior gallery
• Rooftop penthouse
• 3,500 sf urban garden