St. Louis, a city with a rich cultural legacy and one of America’s most iconic landmarks, is poised to redefine its skyline and urban identity. While known historically for its gateway role in westward expansion, the city is now experiencing a modern evolution rooted in architectural ambition, strategic development, and sustainable innovation.
With momentum building around the city’s urban core, three transformative projects—Riverline Apartments, The 314, and Albion West End—are leading this architectural resurgence. These towers do more than add to the skyline; they represent a vision of St. Louis as a center for high-design living, cultural vibrancy, and next-generation urban planning.
Few sites in St. Louis embody both potential and stagnation quite like the old Millennium Hotel. Vacant since 2014 and located at 200 S. 4th Street, directly across from the Gateway Arch, the property has long stood as a dormant opportunity. That opportunity is now being reimagined by the Gateway Arch Park Foundation in partnership with Baltimore-based Cordish Companies.
Set to rise as a 41-story residential tower, the new Riverline Apartments will feature 585 modern units. Beyond its scale, the development is a multidimensional, $670 million urban centerpiece designed to reconnect the city with its riverfront. It will offer retail space, terraces, an amphitheater, a public art program, a rooftop deck, and a proposed home for the Gateway Arch National Park archives—all integrated within a walkable, activated neighborhood design.
“This isn’t just a housing project; it’s an ambitious effort to humanize a skyline and reinvigorate a civic icon with purpose and people.”Chicago YIMBY Sister Cities Series
Across from the new soccer stadium, CITYPARK, another narrative is unfolding—one of material innovation and ecological intent. AHM Group, working with Korb Architects, is advancing what could become one of the nation’s tallest mass timber towers. Aptly named “The 314,” this 29-story development at 2100 Locust Street will comprise 287 apartments and 15,000 square feet of commercial space.
The choice of mass timber is a forward-looking one. As a renewable resource with a lower carbon footprint than steel or concrete, mass timber is gaining global momentum in the sustainable construction movement. By leveraging this material in a high-rise context, St. Louis is joining a select group of cities that are prioritizing environmental consciousness without sacrificing design or scale.
The tower’s form is intentionally minimalist and efficient. A ground-floor restaurant will overlook CITYPARK, connecting residents and visitors to the city’s sports culture. Above, a rooftop deck will provide sweeping views of downtown St. Louis, setting a new standard for skyline living.
In the Central West End, just steps from Forest Park and adjacent to Jeanne Gang’s acclaimed “100 Above the Park,” the Albion West End is quietly redefining luxury living in one of the city’s most established neighborhoods.
This 30-story, $145 million project is a joint venture between Albion Residential, Koplar Properties, and Clayco, with design by Lamar Johnson Collaborative. The tower will bring 305 high-end residential units to the market, set above 1,500 square feet of retail and a 308-car parking garage. Its architectural expression—a facade with rounded corners and a distinct chevron pattern—nods to the elegance of nearby landmarks while establishing its own contemporary presence.
But the Albion West End is not merely about design—it’s about dialogue. It speaks to the need for density, design excellence, and sustainable urban infill. It also adds to a growing narrative: that St. Louis is not only maintaining its architectural heritage, but also shaping its future with intent and elegance.
These three towers are not isolated phenomena. They are part of a larger civic initiative driven by organizations like Greater St. Louis, Inc., which is deeply invested in reshaping the region through innovation sectors such as geospatial technology, aerospace, and life sciences. The parallel investment in real estate reflects a complementary belief: that the physical environment must evolve alongside the economic and technological landscape.
Affordable housing components are included across all three projects, ensuring accessibility amid growth. Most of the funding is already secured, and each tower has targeted construction timelines beginning in late 2025.
What emerges is a vision of St. Louis as a city that honors its past, responds to its present, and builds for its future. Architecture is the most visible artifact of this ambition, but beneath the steel and timber is a story of civic courage and design leadership.
"In a time of retrenchment, St. Louis is thinking boldly about the community that we're going to be next and is aggressively executing major investments in geospatial technology, life sciences, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. Similarly, our real estate development community reflects our sense of civic optimism and sees the opportunity to take some big swings. Greater St. Louis, Inc. has been deeply involved, in very different ways, in helping to advance two of the projects noted in the attached article. Let's get all three built."