Trivers’ transformation of the historic Butler Brothers Building into The Victor, a mixed-use development in St. Louis’ Downtown West neighborhood, received a 2024 AIA Citation Award in Architecture at the AIA Central States Excellence in Design Awards. The awards, hosted by AIA Springfield on September 13th and 14th, brought together architects, designers, and community members to celebrate outstanding work in both local and regional design. The event highlighted a diverse range of projects demonstrating excellence in innovation and design.
Trivers Principal Joe Brinkmann and Architectural Designer Navi Gunalan accepted the award on behalf of the firm.
Constructed in 1906, the 735,000-square-foot Butler Brothers Building was once a bustling warehouse distribution center in the former St. Louis Garment District as well as one of the largest reinforced concrete structures west of the Mississippi River. It had been vacant for two decades before Development Services Group (DSG) engaged Trivers to lead its $130 million renovation.
Trivers reused as much of the building’s original structure as possible. The exterior brick was restored to its original color, the building’s remaining terracotta cornice was revitalized, and the original clam-shell style garage doors that once opened for horse-drawn wagons for shipping were retained and fixed in place. Elements of the building’s history are also incorporated throughout the interior, including patterns and colors from early twentieth century fashion trends and an oversized chessboard in one of the rooftop lounges. These acknowledge its location in the Washington Avenue Historic District and on the former site of Harmonie Hall, home to the 1886 World Chess Championship.
“This was a complex project in every regard and required expertise in multiple disciplines, including architecture, design, sustainability and cultural curation,” said Gary Prosterman, president and CEO for DSG. “Trivers performed exceptionally well in all aspects. They proved to be good listeners and worked closely with our team to solve complex problems in a thoughtful and professional manner.”
Opened to residents in June 2023, this mixed-use multifamily community adjacent to St. Louis CITY SC’s CityPark features 384 apartment units, state-of-the-art amenities, retail spaces, and co-working areas. It is also home to Trivers’ new 8,000-square-foot office on the ground floor, which the firm moved into on May 1, 2024.
