Delmar Divine

Delmar Divine is a social innovation, high-impact real estate initiative that sets an example for community development, social improvement, and collaboration in St. Louis and the nation. The former St. Luke’s Hospital, the second oldest general hospital in St. Louis, closed its doors to the public in 2013. Between 1904 and its closing in 2013, ten significant additions, wings, and even two more floors were added to its flagship structure, resulting in a sprawling complex covering over eight acres. Thanks to the visionaries—Maxine Clark, Founder and CEO of Build-A-Bear-Workshop and Clayco—this historic building has transformed into an epicenter for social innovation to serve the St. Louis community.

LJC’s pre-design consulting team engaged early with the future tenants in planning to understand their vision and necessary amenities to ensure a successful strategy for the individual agencies and the facility. This adaptive reuse project adds affordable housing for young professionals, retail, co-working space, and additional resources for nonprofits, foundations, and community support organizations with missions to improve the lives of children and families in the metropolitan St. Louis area. Preserved from the original hospital, at ground level is a central corridor running East to West, serving as a vibrant amenity-rich concourse connecting six original buildings and creating a hub for social innovation and enterprise.

A fusion of old spaces and new purposes, the design is inspired by the health-focused design of the past. It combines it with the present materials and technology to create inspiring and social spaces that magnify each tenant’s mission.