DG2 Design shaped the surrounding site and landscape for the adaptive reuse of the historic 1930 Crescent Building in St. Louis’s Cortex Innovation Community — transforming a long-vacant structure into a vibrant multi-tenant lab and office facility for the region’s growing bioscience startup community. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Crescent Building was once the bustling printing plant for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Today it stands as a symbol of innovation and preservation, blending its industrial heritage with modern functionality.

A Welcoming, Accessible Entrance

A key landscape element is the new entrance featuring a generous ADA-compliant ramp framed by native plantings. The design transforms what was a utilitarian building edge into an inviting, green arrival experience that signals the building’s renewed purpose and its commitment to accessibility.

Streetscape and Campus Connectivity

DG2 Design connected the building’s landscape to the broader Cortex district streetscape, ensuring a seamless flow between 4340 Duncan and the surrounding innovation campus. As adjacent developments evolved over time, the firm continued collaborating with the client to adapt the landscape — ensuring the campus remained cohesive and functional through an active period of neighborhood growth.

Green Roof and Walkout Terrace

A 1950s addition to the Crescent Building was transformed with the installation of a walkout terrace and a green roof — creating outdoor space for relaxation, informal meetings, and events while contributing to stormwater management and sustainability goals. This addition brings the building’s exterior program in line with the expectations of a modern, mission-driven innovation campus.