Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
7700 Forsyth
Clayton
314-721-8427
The planning phase for Centene Plaza was more like a planning eon. For years, the project languished in legal and political battles, as the proposed site moved from Clayton to downtown and back again. But eventually, a striking 17-story tower emerged from the chaos, giving Clayton its first new Class A office complex in about a decade. Designed by famed architect Gyo Obata of HOK (whose prolific portfolio includes many of St. Louis’ most notable buildings, plus the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in D.C.), Centene Plaza is certified LEED Gold, another first for Clayton. It boasts a 20,000-square-foot vegetative rooftop (the largest around) and low-emissivity glazing, which keeps the windows from transferring too much heat. The tower’s glass facade looks nearly transparent, and its simple, sharp lines give it a minimalist feel, but with whimsical touches. The walkway between the adjacent parking garage and the front entrance is covered by a ceiling of rainbow-colored glass. “I like that kind of contrast of sleek versus bright,” says chef Gerard Craft. “It’s clean,” he adds, distilling the building’s aesthetic to a single word. That appreciation for the architecture helped motivate Craft to bring two restaurants—Niche and Pastaria—to Centene Plaza. Between the trendy dining and the tower’s modernist appeal, it is helping to redefine once-stodgy Clayton as a hip destination. Or as Craft puts it, “There is a ton of momentum right there right now.”
