Century Building (St. Louis) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Century Building and Syndicate Trust Building
|
|
Century Building, 1897
|
|
| Location | St. Louis, Missouri |
|---|---|
| NRHP reference No. | 02001054 |
| Added to NRHP | October 16, 2002 |
The Century Building was a grand, 10-story building in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. It was finished in 1896 and designed in a style called Classical Revival, which means it looked like ancient Greek and Roman buildings. This historic building was used for offices, shops, and even had a large theater with 1600 seats. It was recognized as an important historical place and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 16, 2002.
Contents
The Century Building Story
A Historic Building
The Century Building was a very important part of St. Louis's history. It stood tall for over a century. Its design was unique and added to the city's charm. Many people worked and shopped there over the years. The theater brought entertainment to thousands.
Plans for Downtown St. Louis
In 1999, city planners and groups who wanted to save old buildings worked together. They created a plan for downtown St. Louis. This plan suggested keeping the Century Building. They wanted to give it a new purpose, a process called adaptive reuse. This means changing an old building to fit new needs while keeping its history.
However, the city's leaders, led by the Slay administration, chose a different path. They decided to renovate a nearby historic building, the Old Post Office (OPO). To help with this, they planned to tear down the Century Building. In its place, they wanted to build a parking garage. City officials said that future tenants of the Old Post Office needed parking right next to their offices.
The Fight to Save It
People who wanted to save the Century Building didn't give up. They reached out to the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP). This is a big group that helps protect historic places across the country. In 2001, the NTHP seemed to support saving the building. A director from the NTHP suggested finding another spot for the parking garage. He pointed out that there were many other parking lots nearby that weren't being used much.
But in 2004, the NTHP changed its mind. They decided to help fund the Old Post Office renovation. This included money for the parking garage that would replace the Century Building. This was a big surprise to the preservationists. The NTHP, which was supposed to save historic places, was now supporting the project that would destroy one.
People from all over the country signed an online petition. They wanted to save the Century Building. The president of the NTHP, Richard Moe, explained his organization's decision. He said that tearing down the Century Building was necessary to make the area around the Old Post Office better.
What Happened Next?
A local group, the Landmarks Association, tried one last thing. On October 19, 2004, they filed a lawsuit. They asked a court to temporarily stop the demolition. But their request was denied. Soon after, the demolition of the Century Building began.
Its Legacy
Many people who care about historic buildings were sad to see the Century Building go. They felt it was a big loss for downtown St. Louis. Some also felt that the NTHP had gone against its main goal of saving historic places.
However, others believed that sometimes old buildings must be sacrificed. They argued that this was necessary to improve entire neighborhoods. Even so, most people agree that the Century Building was an important piece of St. Louis's history. Many believe it could have been saved and used in a new way. This would have made it a valuable part of downtown St. Louis.
Some parts of the Century Building were saved. Beams and pieces of its outer walls were collected. The St. Louis Building Arts Foundation now stores them. They are kept at the foundation's workshop in Sauget.
