Demolition of the Millennium Hotel marks the beginning of Cordish’s major redevelopment

Demolition is officially underway at the former Millennium Hotel site in downtown St. Louis, signaling the tangible start of a long-planned transformation of the 28-story complex. The project is being led by The Cordish Companies, which was selected earlier this year by the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.

At an estimated cost of $670 million, Cordish’s proposed redevelopment spans roughly 1.3 million square feet and is set to include a mix of upscale residential units, Class A office space, a food hall, public event space, and an outdoor amphitheater. The plan also calls for dedicated public amenities such as landscaping, pedestrian-friendly walkways, art installations, and possibly even a facility to house the Gateway Arch National Park’s archives.

The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority recently gave the green light for Cordish to proceed as developer, accelerating key pre-construction steps. The Gateway Arch Park Foundation, which holds ownership of the site, has coordinated the effort alongside several public and civic partners—including the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), Greater St. Louis, Inc., and planning and design experts such as PGAV.

To carry out the demolition, the Foundation has contracted Spirtas Wrecking Company and Environmental Operations Inc., which completed remediation of hazardous materials before structural teardown began. The work is being done in phases: the central tower was tackled first, followed by the south tower, and ultimately the north tower.

Officials estimate the demolition process will take one to two years to fully clear the site. Once cleared, Cordish is expected to break ground on construction, though the precise timing for full development has not yet been publicly announced.

Beyond the physical redevelopment, the Gateway Arch Park Foundation is also launching a community-driven story-collecting initiative to preserve the memories tied to the former hotel. The effort is aimed at archiving oral histories, photographs, and personal reflections, linking the site’s past to its future.

Taken together, the project—backed by Cordish, the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, SLDC, Greater St. Louis, Inc., and planning partners—promises to reimagine a key downtown location. It aims not only to deliver commercial and residential value, but also to strengthen connections between the Gateway Arch, Ballpark Village, and the heart of downtown St. Louis.

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Header image: Spirtas Wrecking along with Environmental Operations Inc. begin demolition of the Millennium Hotel in Downtown St. Louis. Photo | The Gateway Arch Park Foundation

AGCMO announces Keystone Awards, SCOTY winners

The Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO) has named Spirtas Wrecking Corporation as its Specialty Contractor of the Year in the Environmental Remediation and Demolition services category.

Spirtas received first place in this discipline by the general contractor members of AGCMO, who were asked to consider their overall experience with Spirtas, including timeliness in regard to completion of projects and ability to stay within budget.

“The need for environmentally responsible remediation and demolition has never been greater, and this industry recognition underscores our commitment to leading the way in this sector,” said Matt Sheehan, president and CEO of Spirtas.

Over the past year, Spirtas has completed 75 environmental remediation and demolition projects in support of Forsyth Pointe, Covenant House Wellness Center, St Mary’s Hospital Convent and the Muskingham River Power Plant in Ohio.

The annual awards program highlights the creativity and talents of dozens of contractors in Missouri’s construction industry. Along with Spirtas, the following contractors received Specialty Contractor of the Year (SCOTY) Awards. (Keystone Awards follow SCOTY Awards):

• ROSCH (ancillary services);

• Vee-Jay Cement Contracting Co. Inc. (concrete / paving);

• Budrovich Excavating & Contracting (earthwork and utilities);

• Guarantee Electrical Co. (electrical);

• TJ Wies Contracting Inc. (interior and exterior finishes, openings and fixtures);

• Charles E. Jarrell Contracting Co. Inc. (HVAC / piping);

• Grant Masonry Contracting Co. Inc. (masonry);

• Boyer Fire Protection (plumbing and fire protection);

• BAM Contracting LLC (structural and finish carpentry);

• ACME Erectors Inc. (structural and finish metals);

• Geissler Roofing Co. Inc. (thermal and moisture protection).

The following contractors received AGMO’s 2020 Construction Keystone Awards.

• Murphy Co. for the Enterprise Center Quad D AHU Replacement;

• PARIC for the Union Station Wheel and Train Park;

• Tarlton Corp. for The Muny Stage and Production Improvements;

• McCarthy Building Companies for the East End Transformation of the Washington University in St. Louis Danforth Campus;

• Massman Construction Co. for the Grand River Bridge Emergency Replacement in Brunswick, Missouri;

• Acme Erectors Inc. for The Vertical Garden in the Steward Family Plaza;

• TJ Wies Contracting Inc. for the State Historical Society in Columbia;

• Murphy Co. for Centene Community Ice Center;

• Murphy Co. for Centene Urban Campus Clayton High Rise;

• icon Mechanical Construction & Engineering LLC for the Pfizer BioPlace New Research & Development Facility;

• ACME Constructors Inc. for Agra Form’s 4-Phased Plant Expansion

• Guarantee Electrical Co. was awarded Keystone Project of the Year in the special coronavirus pandemic response category for construction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s COVID-19 Alternate Care Facility.

The Associated General Contractors of Missouri is the united voice of the construction industry, representing over 500 commercial, industrial, heavy and highway contractors, industry partners and related firms in 110 counties in Missouri. Last month, AGCMO was named large Chapter of the Year by AGC of America. AGCMO operates offices in St. Louis, Jefferson City and Springfield.