Late last year, St. Louis University opened the Casa de Salud (House of Health, more or less), a clinic aimed at the city's Latino population. The university made a smart move, choosing to house the clinic in a modest former auto parts building at the southwest corner of Compton and Chouteau. The building dates to the 1950s and is quintessentially modern. SLU's renovation was basic, and left all of the mid-century features intact. The new sign is stylistically appropriate and provides some night time interest to a fairly dormant intersection. The old aluminum storefront system's ample windows open the building up to the sidewalk, and at night provide a bright, colorful view. SLU took an existing building, retained and enhanced its architectural features and converted it to a new use. Bravo!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Bravo to SLU for Casa de Salud
Late last year, St. Louis University opened the Casa de Salud (House of Health, more or less), a clinic aimed at the city's Latino population. The university made a smart move, choosing to house the clinic in a modest former auto parts building at the southwest corner of Compton and Chouteau. The building dates to the 1950s and is quintessentially modern. SLU's renovation was basic, and left all of the mid-century features intact. The new sign is stylistically appropriate and provides some night time interest to a fairly dormant intersection. The old aluminum storefront system's ample windows open the building up to the sidewalk, and at night provide a bright, colorful view. SLU took an existing building, retained and enhanced its architectural features and converted it to a new use. Bravo!
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8 comments:
cool clinic, thanks for sharing
What historical building did SLU have to tear down in order to pave a parking lot for the clinic!!!
Tim, SLU did not demolish any buildings to create the parking lot.
I was making a joke, Michael, (or at least trying!) regarding some of the historical buildings/homes SLU has acquired over the past few years only to demolish them for campus parking. While it truly annoys me to see a university have such a lack of pride in it's own neighborhood by tearing down it's surroundings in favor of pavement, I do applaud them for re-purposing an old auto parts building.
Keep up the great work. I enjoy reading!
How embarrassing; I pass through this intersection every day and have never noticed this sign.
a triumph of the proper over the usual.
Wow, that is a pleasant shock after their seemingly never ending demolition derby. To bad that all of Compton on the west side of the street south of there to Park looks like Hiroshima.
I grudgingly acknowledge that SLU did something which somewhat selflessly benefits the City. However, I don't think that merely being "present" counts as a benefit. SLU has actively sought to shape this area of town in its own image. Unfortunately, it has been wildly successful in that regard,
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