Busch Student Center at Saint Louis University

The design features abundant glass, open space and an outdoor plaza.
—

Saint Louis University (SLU) selected Clayco as the construction manager for the 42,000-square-foot design-build expansion and 110,000-square-foot renovation of Busch Student Center. The new one-of-a-kind facility offered the university an unmatched wish list of both student and community amenities.

All three floors of the existing student center were renovated, and a two-story section was added on the west side. The addition was constructed of brick over a structural steel frame with curtainwall and punched windows to complement the current structure. Metal and stone accents and a green roof – all traditional elements of SLU buildings – also were incorporated into the design.

Located at the heart of the campus, the existing 35-year-old student center has been transformed into what many students and faculty refer to as “a dream.” The design features abundant glass, open space and an outdoor plaza. A new entrance at Grand and Laclede avenues positions it as the true focal point of the campus and the front door to SLU. The student center now includes a full-service Barnes and Noble bookstore, florist, copy center, salon, convenience store and conference center, in addition to housing various campus clubs, organizations and food service.

One of the most significant features of the building will also be a means to generate revenue for the university. The 20,000-square-foot conference center meeting space and breakout facilities include the second largest single ballroom of its kind in the St. Louis area, large enough to host concerts, small theatrical productions and dinner parties with up to 1,000 guests. The ballroom can be further divided into smaller areas of 4,000 square feet, each equipped with the latest audio-visual technology. The public can rent the entire space, or a portion, for a wide range of events.

Related Projects

The Standard at Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina

Siebel Center for Design – University of Illinois

Champaign, Illinois

Penn State University West Campus Parking Garage and Infrastructure

University Park, Pennsylvania

SCAD Forty Four

Atlanta, Georgia