World Wide Tech HQ to Revitalize St. Louis District

By Barbra Murray, Contributing Editor

World Wide Technology has broken ground on its new headquarters in the Maryland Heights area of St. Louis, Mo., and the 210,000-square-foot office building will be more than just a cutting-edge new home for the multi-billion-dollar systems integrator. The tower will be the centerpiece of a $95 million project–co-developed with Lodging Hospitality Management – that will spur the renaissance of the city’s landmark, 42-acre Westport Plaza business and entertainment district.

Designed by M+H Architects, WWT’s new headquarters building will be a state-of-the-art destination with room for as many as 1,000 employees of the rapidly expanding firm. WWT’s growth spurt is such that the company will retain its existing headquarters nearby for use as a technology and innovation park featuring its Advanced Technology Center and other operations. It’s a decision that will prevent further detriment to the St. Louis office market’s absorption rate, which totaled a negative 152,800 square feet for the first nine months of 2015, according to a third quarter report by commercial real estate services firm NAI Desco.

TW Constructors and Clayco are serving as contractors on the WWT office project and are on schedule to complete construction in mid-2017. The WWT headquarters, however, is just part of the Westport Plaza revitalization effort. WWT and LHM will also erect a 763-car public parking facility, crate a connection from the existing WWT campus to the business district and facilitate numerous outdoor improvements. Additionally, LHM will take on major capital and tenant improvements to the area in an effort to boost Westport Plaza’s Class A status.

“These improvements to the existing Westport Plaza campus will allow Westport to once again serve as the focal point for Maryland Heights,” Bob O’Loughlin, CEO of LHM, said in a prepared statement. “The vision of a restored Westport Plaza will allow it to serve the community as a prime location for businesses, social gatherings, dining and special events.”

WWT and LHM’s revitalization endeavor has garnered all the right attention – and support.  St. Louis County, Maryland Heights and other local agencies are behind the project, as is the State of Missouri, which is providing WWT with an economic incentive package contingent upon certain job creation criteria.