Repurposing a local landmark
Project Story
Craft Alliance has been a destination for St. Louisans for art classes, exhibitions, artist residencies as well as its retail shop and community outreach programs. Part of the Kranzberg Arts Center, the historic Woolworth Building on Grand Avenue was the perfect satellite location to provide collaborative opportunities with nearby arts institutions and schools as well as an increased presence in the city.
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Size
59,000 SF
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Status
Completed 2008
The Work
Christner worked with Craft Alliance to create an engaging space that serves artists, students and the community with an exhibition gallery and studios for clay, fiber, metal and graphic arts.
Inserting classrooms and artist-in-residence studios into the basement meant adding a stair to link the two levels and taking advantage of borrowed light from the storefront on the main floor. Spaces and furnishings are designed for multi-purpose use: instruction, display, meeting space and hospitality.
