CRG helps blaze the trail for the CORTEX District in St. Louis –
St. Louis is becoming one of the fastest burgeoning hubs of research and technology in the nation. Today, St. Louis is home to a community of medical centers and universities, a growing group of technology firms, and a booming collection of over 1,000 startup companies.
During the 1990s, the region watched as many local researchers and entrepreneurs left after failing to find the necessary resources to build and grow in the area. As a way to re-orient the business climate in St. Louis, a group of business and local leaders founded the nonprofit group, Coalition for Plant and Life Sciences. The group’s goal was to retain St. Louis’ research talent and grow the biotechnology industry by providing companies with better opportunities to financing and modern facilities.
Over the next several years the coalition had notable success, but the most visible example of this success is the massive neighborhood redevelopment project known as Center of Research, Technology & Entrepreneurial Exchange (Cortex). (Source: Keeping the Fruits of Research Close to Home in St. Louis)
Center of Research, Technology & Entrepreneurial Exchange
Founded in 2002, Center of Research, Technology, and Entrepreneurial Expertise (Cortex) is the Midwest’s premiere hub for bioscience and technology research, development and commercialization. It serves as the anchor of St. Louis’ growing ecosystem for innovative startups and established companies.
Cortex is providing state-of-the-art facilities to hatch some of the nation’s most promising technological advances. Cortex offers customizable lab and office space, proximity to world-class research institutions, availability of a highly-trained workforce, and access to venture capital…all surrounded by amenity-rich urban neighborhoods.
CRG came on as a developer for the Cortex district to help make the founders’ idea a reality
The Cortex innovation community is home to a vibrant 200-acre technology district integrated into St. Louis’ historic Central West End and Forest Park Southeast residential neighborhoods. It is surrounded by nationally ranked universities, medical centers, and abundant cultural and recreational assets, including the Grand Center arts district, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and 1,400-acre Forest Park that is host to the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, the St. Louis Science Center, biking and walking trails and two public golf courses.
CRG came on as a developer for the Cortex district to help make the founders’ idea a reality.
Innovation Community Projects –
Cortex One
There was a dire need to make Cortex something more than an idea. In particular, because companies like Stereotaxis, a St. Louis-based, medical device start-up company, had outgrown its space, challenging its ability to continue operations in the local incubator. Cortex One was designed and built in approximately 11 months to allow Steroetaxis to stay in the Cortex District and to provide additional space for the Center of Applied Nanomedicine, a division of the Washington University School of Medicine.
The three-story, 177,000-square-foot facility is located within a bioscience district designed to encourage small biotech manufacturing companies to market. The facility features a three-story atrium within a new office space, state-of-the-art wet and dry laboratories for research and development, and small manufacturing units for use of the tenants.
The facility’s design and construction addressed the needs of biotech companies by incorporating a number of core and shell features. The building’s floor slabs were designed to allow future installation of vibration-sensitive equipment. The building’s north façade features contemporary cantilevered glass. The south façade consists of site-cast concrete wall panels set at varying angles. A dramatic three-story atrium lobby is warmly finished in stone, wood and fabric.
Solae
On the tails of Cortex One’s completion, CRG partnered with Solae (purchased by DuPont in 2012) to develop its new global headquarters and research and pilot production facility.
CRG performed the property analysis for Solae and also negotiated with the city to allow Solae to relocate and maintain intact its Chapter 100 tax credit program for personal property, which under normal circumstances would have been recaptured because of the move.
The world leader in developing soy-based technologies and ingredients, Solae’s commitment to environmental stewardship is reflected in the design and construction strategies used throughout the project. Improved indoor air quality, locally sourced construction materials, construction waste reduction, increased daylight, and energy-efficient electrical and HVAC systems contributed to the project’s LEED certification.
The headquarters, totaling over 175,000 square feet, features 80,000 square feet of state-of-the-art research labs, 70,000 square feet of office space, and a 15,000 square foot pilot plant.
Looking to the Future
Since completing Solae, CRG is still very involved in the Cortex Innovation Community working on new projects and promoting additional development. CRG has been working alongside Wexford in growing this innovative community.
Cortex resident companies now have access to core facilities at Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, The University of Missouri – St. Louis and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. These facilities provide startups and growing companies with access to equipment and expertise critically important to scaling high-growth IT and bioscience ventures.
The progress taking place in Cortex permeates far beyond our physical boders. the breakthroughs of Cortex companies are elevating St. Louis and making our region a nationally and internationally recognized bioscience and technology hub; at full build out the Cortex Innovation Community will be home to 13,000 permanent technology-related jobs.
