I love this power plant, once used for streetcars, built in 1903. It’s a Beaux-Arts style edifice, and I can’t imagine why this couldn’t be adapted for some use. It has such great little details in its facade.
A Blog detailing the beauty of St. Louis architecture and the buildup of residue-or character-that accumulates over the course of time.
There’s something so “locomotive” about that facade. It’s handsome, really, in a steampunk kind of way.
I can’t believe those windows are actually operable! How heavy is one of those sashes?!
They are probably several hundred lbs. per sash. However, I imagine there was a very substantial weight and pulley system (likely using wire or chain and not the cloth sash cords seen in residential sashes) that made opening and closing the windows easy. After all, those windows were the ventilation for man and machine, working along with a clerestory that cannot be seen in the photograph. If you worked there in the summer, you would want those huge sashes to open easily.
I will say that those are probably the largest operable sash windows I can recall seeing. They are pretty amazing, which is why I am sure they will be destroyed if the building is ever renovated.
Who owns this? Is it for sale? Who was archiyrctgbl..
Unknown architect, built originally for St. Louis Transit Company. I am sure it is for sale, for the right price. Owned by an LLC registered at the address of Koplar Properties.
Interesting. I drive past this every day & have wondered what its original use was. Whats left of the roof is in pretty bad shape. Hopefully someone sees the value in restoring the bldg soon. Would make a great venue as a theater, concert hall, or event space, etc…