4 Hands and Peacemaker: A New Culinary Destination in Kirkwood

4 Hands and Peacemaker, one of the most-anticipated restaurants of the year, opened in downtown Kirkwood. This unique partnership between 4 Hands Brewing Co. and Peacemaker Lobster & Crab has transformed the space previously occupied by Down by The Station, a boutique gift shop near the Kirkwood train station.

The restaurant, three years in the making, offers a “transportive” dining experience envisioned by partners Lemp and Nashan. The 2,500-square-foot interior is complemented by a covered patio with 9-foot tall accordion glass doors, an uncovered patio, and a green space referred to as the “back yard.” This outdoor area provides a safe space for kids to play while adults dine nearby.

DG2 Design, landscape architects, collaborated closely with the building architect, Eddy Design Group and civil engineer, Castle to ensure a seamless transition between the building and the landscaped patios. Guests are greeted with a park-like setting featuring native plants, landscape boulders, and trees, creating a harmonious blend of indoor and outdoor spaces.

The outdoor space includes ADA-compliant restrooms, ensuring comfort and convenience for all guests. An additional patio area adjacent to a red caboose is set to be adorned with string lights and sail shades, adding to the charm.

Early visitors have praised the spacious, beautifully landscaped environment, making 4 Hands and Peacemaker a standout addition to the Kirkwood dining scene.

4210 Duncan – Cortex Innovation Community

St. Louis, MO

The design of the nine-story, 316,000-sq.-ft office and lab building at 4210 Duncan was inspired by the site’s legacy
as a former metal manufacturer. It features a linear, metal facade and will become the largest building on the Cortex
campus upon completion. The flexible floor plan is designed to accommodate various space configurations and is techand
lab-ready. A hospitality lobby connects to the new Cortex Gateway Plaza, offering outdoor restaurant terraces,
event spaces, and work areas.

The building will be constructed on a surface parking lot, with significant street-level changes planned, including the
removal of a large concrete wall that kept the site level. Retail spaces will be included to enhance the district’s
development into a true neighborhood over time. All four sides of the building engage with the streetscape
and pedestrian level, activating the Cortex Community experience. An interior plaza will provide circulation as
well as spaces for art, games, movies, and socializing. The building’s design will be striking and visible from Interstate
64, Forest Park Avenue, and Vandeventer, making it the tallest in the neighborhood. Additionally, 4210 Duncan will
be close to Sarah Street, which is undergoing significant changes to improve the streetscape and pedestrian
connection to the Grove.

CITYPARK – St. Louis CITY SC MLS Stadium & District

St. Louis, Missouri

The ownership group for St. Louis CITY FC, the new Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise in St. Louis, had a vision for creating a vibrant mixed-use stadium district in the city’s Downtown West neighborhood. DG2 teamed with architects HOK and Snow Kreilich to design this reality.  The stadium is located within, Downtown West, a resurgent neighborhood and at the western end of the Gateway Mall, which is a corridor of public open space that connects to the Gateway Arch and Mississippi River.

 

The stadium site and adjacent parking garage lie across the street from historic Union Station and at the end of the Gateway Mall, along The Brickline Greenway linking the stadium to the Gateway Arch and Mississippi River.

 

The stadium’s scale and form emerge from the surrounding urban context.   The 22,500-seat stadium is open and transparent, with views into the field from the neighborhood and views out to the city from the seating bowl.

St. Louis CITY wants this mixed-use district to catalyze downtown activity 365 days a year. Anchored by a compact stadium that fits comfortably into its urban neighborhood, the district will include spaces for hosting year-round community events, concerts, celebrations, and a variety of outdoor activities.

 

The 31 acres site includes over 300 trees of 21 different species. The site was strategically designed to keep the stadium’s corners open, we worked with the team to set the elevation of the stadium be accessible at all four corners. The design creates flexible plazas that can host non-game day events ranging from festivals to wedding receptions, including the main 2.9 acre Lou Fusz Plaza . Street-level vendors will have the opportunity to establish stands that face out to the city from the Stadium and the Pitch 314 Garage.

 

MORE THAN A STADIUM

The stadium district also includes the team’s headquarters, training and performance center, three practice fields, and a fan pavilion and team store. STL City SC will be of a few teams in all of professional sports to have all components in one downtown location. As a result of early planning and creative solutions, the stadium will have four public sides, all reaching out to the community as an inviting entry. Fans will be able to entry the stadium on all sides with a major entry plaza serving as an optimal pre-game gathering space and post-game celebrations. This area will provide better access for fans and allow for the development of a year-round urban hub surrounding the stadium. This will not only allow for the development of a world class stadium, but will transform Downtown West into an urban activity hub open year-round and easily accessible via pedestrian pathways, bicycle and public transit.

  • 31 ACRES
  • 2.9 ACRE EAST PLAZA
  • 300 URBAN TREES (21 DIFFERENT SPECIES)
  • 54 PLANT VARIETIES
  • 1,600 FEET OF NEW CITY STREETS RESTORED
  • 1,800 FEET FROM A METROLINK STATION
  • 841 LINEAR FEET OF GREENWAY

 

AWARDS

2024, Rethinking the Future First Award, Sports & Recreation, CITYPARK

2024, WAN Awards Americas, Public Accessible, CITYPARK

2023, AIA St. Louis Honor Award, CITYPARK

4340 Duncan – Cortex Innovation Community

The adaptive reuse of the historic 1930 Crescent Building breathed new life into a long-vacant structure, transforming it into a vibrant multi-tenant lab and office facility for St. Louis’ burgeoning bioscience startup community. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Crescent Building was once a bustling printing plant for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Today, it stands as a symbol of innovation and preservation, blending its rich industrial heritage with modern functionality.

The renovation maintained the building’s original architectural character while introducing a contemporary space program. Glass-walled office suites, state-of-the-art labs, support spaces, and meeting rooms now occupy a multistory atrium that once housed massive printing presses. The adaptive reuse honors the building’s past, with exposed brick, steel beams, and industrial features thoughtfully preserved to create a dynamic environment that bridges history and modernity.

DG2 Design was instrumental in shaping the surrounding site and landscape, creating a welcoming, accessible, and visually cohesive space that integrates seamlessly with the Cortex Innovation Community. Key enhancements included:

  • A New Entrance and Ramp: A thoughtfully designed entrance features a generous ADA-compliant ramp, framed by native landscaping that enhances the building’s curb appeal and provides a green, inviting welcome.
  • Streetscape Integration: We connected the building’s landscape to the broader Cortex district, ensuring a seamless flow and a unified streetscape experience for pedestrians and visitors.
  • Walkout Terrace and Green Roof: The 1950s addition to the building was transformed with the installation of a walkout terrace and a green roof, offering an outdoor space for relaxation, meetings, and events while contributing to stormwater management and sustainability.
  • Landscape Adaptation: As adjacent developments evolved, DG2 Design collaborated with the client to adjust the landscape, accommodating the changing environment and ensuring the campus remained cohesive and functional for its users.

This project is a testament to the power of adaptive reuse, preserving the historic essence of the Crescent Building while providing a modern, inspiring workspace for the next generation of innovators in St. Louis.

Mastercard Sustainable Campus Master Plan

In the summer of 2018, DG2 Design was commissioned by Cushman & Wakefield to develop a comprehensive landscape master plan for Mastercard’s 52-acre property in O’Fallon, MO. Home to a LEED Platinum-accredited facility constructed in 2000, this dynamic campus serves over 3,000 employees and continues to evolve to meet their needs. As the site matures, a forward-thinking blueprint was needed to guide its future growth, focusing on sustainability and enhancing campus biodiversity.

The sustainable master plan outlines key factors to consider when altering, replacing, or adding to the site’s established landscape. DG2 Design views sustainability through a holistic lens, encompassing three primary focus areas: Environmental, Economic, and Social. Although our master plan prioritizes environmental sustainability, we also recognize its overlap with economic efficiency and employee well-being—essential aspects for creating a resilient, vibrant campus.

Key Objectives of the Master Plan:

  1. Environmental Stewardship
    The plan emphasizes enhancing campus biodiversity by introducing a diverse array of native plant species to create habitats for local wildlife, including pollinators and birds. By integrating a variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials, we aim to support ecological health and improve the site’s resilience against climate variability. Biodiverse landscapes not only strengthen the ecosystem but also enrich the sensory experience for employees, connecting them to nature and promoting mental well-being.
  2. Sustainable Infrastructure
    Incorporating green infrastructure like rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavements helps manage stormwater naturally, reducing runoff and mitigating the urban heat island effect. The plan also recommends replacing traditional turf with native meadow plantings, reducing maintenance costs and water usage while supporting local pollinator populations.
  3. Employee Wellness
    The master plan aligns with Mastercard’s commitment to employee wellness by creating inviting outdoor spaces. Enhanced walking trails, shaded seating areas, and outdoor meeting spots are designed to encourage physical activity, relaxation, and social interaction, fostering a vibrant campus culture.

A Blueprint for Future Growth

The intent of the master plan was to provide a strategic toolkit with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to guide design and specification decisions as future capital improvement projects are identified. These KPIs encompass aspects of landscape maintenance, environmental sustainability, and employee wellness, offering measurable targets to track progress and ensure continuous improvement.

As Mastercard’s O’Fallon campus begins its shift towards a more sustainable and biodiverse landscape, this master plan serves as a vital roadmap, ensuring that each design choice contributes to a greener, more resilient environment for the years ahead.   Dg2 Design is proudly continuing to assist Mastercard as they implement the proposed master plan projects. 

The Venue at Maison du Lac

In collaboration with Tao + Lee Associates, DG2 Design transformed a former llama farm into The Venue at Maison du Lac, a stunning, nature-focused event space set in the scenic countryside of Catawissa, Missouri, just 40 miles outside of St. Louis. This unique destination offers an idyllic setting for weddings, receptions, corporate retreats, and other special gatherings.

The 25-acre property combines historic charm with modern elegance. Near the heart of the site stands the Maison du Lac stone house, built in 1843, now beautifully restored. Adjacent to this historic gem is a contemporary 300-seat banquet hall designed by Tao + Lee, featuring expansive lakeside views that create a breathtaking backdrop for any event.

DG2 Design’s master plan concept strategically frames views across the diverse landscape, highlighting the prairie, woodlands, and the picturesque Catawissa Stone House. Overlooking a serene 4-acre lake, the venue provides various ceremony sites, including a repurposed barn, winding trails, and accessible lake edges, offering guests multiple options for memorable experiences.

Future Vision and Garden Expansion

As part of a phased approach to enhance the venue’s appeal, plans for expanding the gardens are set to unfold as the budget allows. Future enhancements may include curated themed gardens, native wildflower meadows, and additional lakeside plantings to further enrich the natural beauty of the site. These expansions aim to increase biodiversity, provide stunning photo opportunities, and create new spaces for intimate ceremonies and gatherings, ensuring that The Venue at Maison du Lac continues to be a distinctive destination in the St. Louis area.

The collaboration between all parties, including the visionary landscape design by DG2 Design, has brought this extraordinary venue to life. Now, guests can experience a one-of-a-kind event space where history, nature, and modern design seamlessly converge.

The PwC Pennant Building Rooftop

DG2 Design partnered with HKS and Tao + Lee Architects to create the first Class A office building for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) at St. Louis Cardinals’ Ballpark Village. This 11-story office tower, named after its anchor tenant, spans 117,000 sq. ft. and offers a premier workspace with street-level retail, restaurants, and entertainment spaces. Located at the intersection of 8th and Walnut streets, just a short five-minute walk from Busch Stadium, the building features a rooftop plaza with spectacular views of the stadium and The Arch.

Rooftop Plaza Design

The rooftop amenities are thoughtfully designed with large concrete pavers on a raised pedestal system, creating a sleek, modern aesthetic. Key features include:

  • Custom Dual Pergola Structure: Provides shaded areas for relaxation and gatherings.
  • Firepit and Site Furnishings: Cozy couches surround the firepit, accompanied by modern picnic tables and round cocktail tables, offering versatile seating options for socializing and dining.
  • Built-In Planters and Accent Lighting: Enhance the ambiance and define spaces within the open rooftop area.

Focus on Biodiversity

DG2 Design selected native and resilient plant species to introduce biodiversity to this urban rooftop, which is typically a harsh environment for vegetation. The carefully chosen plant palette not only adds greenery but also attracts a variety of pollinators and insects, bringing life and vibrancy to the space. The inclusion of these elements has created a dynamic, nature-infused environment that enhances the user experience and promotes ecological health.

This collaboration has resulted in a premier office space that seamlessly integrates modern amenities with sustainable landscape design, setting a new standard for urban work environments in St. Louis.

Upper Muny Festival & Parking Plaza

DG2 Design, in collaboration with Horner Shifrin Engineers, led the renovation of the historic 11-acre Festival & Parking Plaza in Forest Park. Used more than 30 weekends a year for special events, this plaza also serves as the primary parking lot for over 350,000 Muny patrons annually.

The new design for the 75-year-old lot incorporates raised islands and curbed sidewalks, enhancing traffic flow and pedestrian safety. High-efficiency LED light poles now include water hookups and extra outlets, meeting the needs of various events. Stormwater management is achieved through bioretention basins, while extensive landscaping brings a natural, welcoming aesthetic that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding park.

An extensive palette of native plants—including 100 trees, 850 shrubs, and over 4,300 perennials—was thoughtfully selected to absorb stormwater, improve biodiversity, and enrich the visitor experience. Designs were finalized in 2014, and construction was completed on schedule in May 2015, ensuring uninterrupted enjoyment of The Muny’s musical season and popular events like The Great Forest Park Balloon Race & Glow and Loufest.

Client Feedback
“DG2’s work on the new and improved Festival & Parking Plaza in Forest Park was high-quality and completed on time, within a schedule that kept the Muny season uninterrupted. It’s been great to see visitors use and enjoy this greatly improved space in recent years.”
— David Lenczycki, Director of Planning & Projects

21c Museum Hotel St. Louis

The 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis invites guests to explore a world of curiosity and art within its 10-story historic building and surrounding Art Park Garden. Housed in a beautifully renovated 95-year-old former YMCA, this unique boutique hotel blends the charm of its architectural heritage with contemporary art, making every corner an invitation to discover something new. The Louisville-based 21c brand is renowned for transforming historic structures into vibrant cultural destinations, complete with modern art installations and their iconic colored penguin statues.

DG2 Design’s Role: Integrating Building, Streetscape, and Art Park

DG2 Design collaborated with PWWG Architects and Hufft to seamlessly integrate the building, surrounding streetscape, and the Art Park Garden. The landscape architecture team crafted a cohesive design that marries the historical architecture with contemporary elements, enhancing the pedestrian experience while providing a green urban sanctuary. Thoughtful landscaping and strategic pathways connect the hotel’s entrances, outdoor dining spaces, and the Art Park, creating a welcoming flow that invites exploration and interaction.

The Art Park Garden: A Unique Urban Experience

St. Louis is the first 21c location to feature an Art Park Garden, highlighting the hotel’s commitment to merging art with the urban landscape. In collaboration with Laumeier Sculpture Park, the garden showcases View Finder, an interactive art installation by Chandler Ahrens. This series of kaleidoscopic, reflective tubes offers a captivating experience, capturing and distorting glimpses of the surrounding cityscape. Visitors are treated to a dynamic collage of images—blurred traffic, nearby architecture, and pedestrians seemingly walking through the sky—creating a mesmerizing fusion of viewer and environment.

A Space for Community and Celebration

Beyond its artistic appeal, the Art Park Garden serves as a versatile outdoor venue. It features a custom concrete amphitheater and artificial turf lawns, providing an inviting setting for wedding ceremonies, receptions, yoga sessions, and concerts. The park also extends the experience of the hotel’s Idol Wolf restaurant, offering a charming outdoor dining area under the shade of a grove of River Birch trees. It’s an ideal spot for hotel guests and locals alike to enjoy a coffee from Good Press Cafe while taking in the serene surroundings.

Through collaboration with PWWG Architects and Hufft, DG2 Design has crafted a vibrant and cohesive space where the historical building, modern art installations, and thoughtfully designed landscapes converge. The result is a unique cultural destination that celebrates the interplay between history, urban life, and nature, making 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis a standout addition to the city’s dynamic landscape.