An article published yesterday on the St. Louis Business Journal website reported that Mother Concordia Hall at St. Mary's Hospital is being demolished to make way for a "streetcape" project, essentially a beautification of the hospitals entrance at Demun Avenue (image above from the St. Louis Business Journal). The only good news here is that the building will not be replaced by parking. Apparently the appearance of the building, in other words the fact that it is old was a determining factor in the buildings fate. St. Mary’s President William Jennings is quoted saying: “St. Mary’s is largely a brand new hospital on the inside, and we want the outside to match.”
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Update: Mother Concordia Hall to be replaced by "streetscape"
An article published yesterday on the St. Louis Business Journal website reported that Mother Concordia Hall at St. Mary's Hospital is being demolished to make way for a "streetcape" project, essentially a beautification of the hospitals entrance at Demun Avenue (image above from the St. Louis Business Journal). The only good news here is that the building will not be replaced by parking. Apparently the appearance of the building, in other words the fact that it is old was a determining factor in the buildings fate. St. Mary’s President William Jennings is quoted saying: “St. Mary’s is largely a brand new hospital on the inside, and we want the outside to match.”
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9 comments:
Nothing says "welcoming" like a fresh view of the parking garage.
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lame. I'm practicing the face I would give if I was standing next to the person that said that. Jaw open to the side, one eye brow up, the other down, nostrils flared...
Removing the street does create some odd effects.Is that a skybridge connecting two parking garages over an alpine forest I see in the background?
And this where there was to be a busy boulevard and streetcar line... I wonder if the landscape will be used in five years?
"“St. Mary’s is largely a brand new hospital on the inside, and we want the outside to match.”" Chalk up another victory for the marketing whores and "branding". Gee, are they going to sheath the other buildings in glass and steel, and call it "new"? Maybe some spiffy new silver lame uniforms for the staff. Progress! Modernity! Fresh! Unbelievable ignorance and mediocrity.
You know what would be "new" and "fresh"? Restoring the beautiful historic building that distinguishes St. Mary's "modern" complex to other, higher-ranked hospitals in the region.
Is it just me or has the Catholic Church become the recent heavyweight in Saint Louis' piece by piece destruction?
Anonymous: SSM is a non-profit corporation independent from the "Catholic Church" so I don't see much of a connection. Hospitals routinely do tend to take down historic buildings as part of "campus" planning, as BJC just did with the Ettrick and Schoenberg buildings.
sick!! this hall represented a history as well as room that could be used for families, people in need or bringing back the old LPN school. Dolores fendler would turn over in her grave or maybe the sisters passed on are looking down in sadness. Whose idea was this? New doctors office? Beauty destroyed!!1
Dear Anonymous from June 10, 2010 -thank you for mentioning my mother. Yes, she is indeed turning over in her grave by the loss of a great building. I spent many days of my youth in my mother's office and often walked through Concordia Hall. I drive by St. Mary's today and am saddened.
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