Osborn Barr’s Saint Louis Headquarters
Nehring Design has designed a 40,000 square-foot office space in Saint Louis, Missouri for advertising agency Osborn Barr.
Set in the historic Cupples 9 building, Osborn Barr’s corporate headquarters occupies three adjoining floors with views of Busch Stadium and the surrounding city skyline. A central communicating staircase made of steel and repurposed timber showcases a 3-story feature wall fabricated of reclaimed doors from locally demolished buildings and large monitors with integrated technology. The staircase is the cord connecting the various activities and departments throughout while the monumental accent wall is symbolic of O+B’s commitment to “opening doors for their clients over the years.”
Built as a warehouse, varying story heights allow for mezzanines to accommodate extra storage and informal gathering spaces nestled in the existing steel rail spur and overlooking the office below. Custom workstations positioned along exterior windows provide natural light to stationary employees. Many private offices are located at the interior with front facades designed to replicate the warehouse office design using historic photos taken over a century ago.
Items original to the building were salvaged and reused including a floor to ceiling spiral steel shoot as a reminder of past transportation technology, large sliding fire doors to act as art and refurbished heavy wood timbers to bring out natural warmth against the exposed masonry shell. Natural finishes, rustic textures, conventional construction materials and farm inspired furnishings identify various destinations while articulating curved screens pivot to open informal meeting spaces into one large company gathering area.
The essence of this space communicates Osborn Barr’s commitment to agriculture and rural America in their everyday work setting.
Design: Nehring Design
Photography: Alise O’Brien Photography
