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Centene headquarters to include public, green features
(by Mitch Schneider - September 02, 2009)
After years of controversy, the Centene Corporation’s new headquarters complex in Clayton is now becoming a reality. Construction began earlier this year and company officials are promising that the project’s first phase will be finished on time and with numerous benefits for Clayton and the region as a whole.
At an Aug. 24 public forum, Centene Chairman and CEO Michael Neidorff presented a report of the status of the project’s first phase, which includes a 17-story office tower at the corner of Forsyth and Hanley. There’s also a garage along Forsyth as well as landscaped public areas between the buildings. Between them, the buildings will also include 20,000 square feet of retail space.
Neidorff said that work on some of the tower’s infrastructure such as plumbing has already begun and that recently, five truckloads of highly reflective windows made from a special glass were delivered. The glass is made with a low iron casting, which will eliminate any greenish hue. Work to install the windows will begin in mid-September.
The building is expected to be “capped off” sometime in November and should be ready for use in July 2010, Neidorff said.
One major aspect of the project will be the garage, which will include retail space along Forsyth. According to Neidorff, the garage will draw more power than would be typical, because Centene eventually plans to install plug-in stations for electric cars. The company plans to begin with stations for up to 50 cars, although the exact number will depend on the amps needs per car. Overall, the garage will have approximately 1,000 parking spaces, with the majority available to the public. There will continue to be parking meters available along Forsyth.
The inclusion of the spaces for electric cars was welcomed by Clayton Mayor Linda Goldstein, who heard about the idea for the first time at the Aug. 24 event. “What they want to do with the electric cars is impressive. It shows a commitment to community environmental responsibility,” Goldstein said.
Neidorff stressed the environmental aspects of the building, for which Centene intends to seek LEED certification at the gold level. He also said that the company intends to look at the possibility of installing bike racks in the area.
Another major aspect of the project is the tower’s auditorium, which is expected to seat 220 to 230 people. Neidorff said that the facility will be primarily used by Centene for training programs, but that it will also be made available to other tenants of the building. He also said that Centene is looking into the possibility of making it available to the public for functions such as concerts. Neidorff said he believes that the auditorium, used in conjunction with the building’s lobby, could be a viable event space for the area.
“[The new building] is a community project ... this project is a lot of fun, we [Centene] are growing and doing well, and as the economy gets stronger, my belief is that other development will happen in the area,” Neidorff said.
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