Foundry Developer Proposes Swap to Keep Armory as Entertainment Venue
Date Posted: September 15, 2026
Posted In: Discussion, News, People,
From First Alert 4: City Foundry STL developer Steve Smith is proposing an alternative to a plan that would convert the historic Armory building into corporate offices, suggesting the office space instead be moved across Interstate 64 to the Foundry.
Armory has sat empty for two years
City Foundry STL draws more than 2 million people a year to Midtown, five years after opening. Across Interstate 64, the Armory has been dark and closed for two years.
Developer TerraWatt has proposed a data center behind the Armory and converting the 250,000-square-foot historic building into corporate offices.
Smith, CEO of New + Found and the developer behind City Foundry STL, said he supports the data center proposal but does not support turning the Armory into offices.
“The Armory building is a fascinating, really interesting volume for any of your viewers who have been there. It is very unique, built in 1939. With the data center development — which we’re supportive of, by the way — the discussion has been to put office space in there. There’s a desire for office space, and we’re certainly supportive of that. But as a practicing architect, I don’t think that’s the best use of the building,” Smith said.
TerraWatt’s original pitch for office space would house about 150 workers, according to David Amelotti.
“It’s a quarter-million square feet… but that would be hard to do because there are not windows. It’s got a 60-foot-high vault. It’s got a mezzanine… Taking a unique building designed for large groups of people and converting it into an office building is not really the best use of that building,” Smith said.
Smith proposes moving office space to the Foundry
Smith is floating a compromise to both TerraWatt and the city of St. Louis: keep the proposed data center, leave the Armory as an entertainment venue, and move the entire office component across the highway to City Foundry.
Smith said the Foundry’s 100,000 square feet of upper-level office space is already 100% occupied and is surrounded by restaurants, retail and a grocery store.