Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Construction of Interim Science Building Completed at Saint Louis University

  • 09/08/17

St. Louis Science BuildingMcCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has completed the conversion of a former charter elementary school into an interim science building for Saint Louis University (SLU). The 50,000-sq.-ft. renovation, which was undertaken and opened in time for fall 2017 semester, now houses research, teaching and office space for the University’s Department of Biology. Located on SLU’s South Campus, the new facilities will serve students, researchers and faculty while the University renovates Macelwane Hall, which experienced a fire and subsequent water damage in May 2017.

McCarthy completed the fast-track construction project in seven weeks to ensure the building would be ready for the start of classes on August 28.

“We quickly mobilized our team and collaborated closely with SLU’s staff and Fox Architects to convert the vacant school into a state-of-the-art science learning environment,” says Ryan Freeman, vice president at McCarthy Building Companies. “The project involved a lot of hands-on ingenuity and innovation to meet the very quick timeframe.”

To avoid project delays and reduce costs, the construction team proactively surveyed and sourced laboratory casework and equipment salvaged from the fire, then reworked it to fit the programs and layout in the new spaces. 

Located at the corner of Spring and Chouteau Avenues, the former Imagine charter elementary school building required installation of lab exhaust and other systems and equipment, as well as extensive rework of mechanical and electrical systems to accommodate advanced research and teaching labs. 

“We relied on McCarthy’s efficiency and specialized expertise in building complex research and education spaces to complete the project on time,” says Dustin Montgomery, assistant director of construction services of Saint Louis University.

Featured

  • Kimball International Releases Curated Design Support Program

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced the launch of a new end-to-end design support program, DesignSuite. According to a news release, its goal is to guide architecture & design professionals and dealer partners through the process from vision to specification.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.

  • FGCU Breaks Ground on New Health Sciences Building

    Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has launched construction on a major new academic facility that leaders say will reshape healthcare education in Southwest Florida for decades to come, according to university news.