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Committee reviews three renovation options for CVPA/CSMB; cost and phasing questions remain
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Summary
Design team presented three options for the CVPA and CSMB renovations — full-scope Option A, reduced Option B, and north-only Option C — highlighting secure vestibules, circulation and an ADA elevator; board members pressed for final costs, parking counts and phasing details.
Courtigan Clark’s design team presented three distinct renovation packages for the CVPA and CSMB buildings and asked the St. Louis City Real Estate Committee for direction on scope and phasing.
"Option A is the project as it was recently bid or rebid back in August '26," a presenter said, describing a package that would add both north and south secure entry vestibules, a south-entry elevator, renovated south parking, courtyard improvements and a renovated dance suite. Erin Mueller, associate vice president with Courtigan Clark, told the committee the full-scope plan would relocate the CVPA administration suite from the second floor to the first level so it sits adjacent to the new secure entry.
The design team emphasized safety and separation of visitors from students. "The essence of a secure vestibule provides a separate area for a visitor to come in and be vetted and allowed into the building that does not engage with any of the student population," Mueller said, explaining how the south entry currently requires visitors to be adjacent to students and how the additions would separate those flows.
Option B was described as a reduced scope that keeps both north and south secure vestibules and some site stabilization but excludes several student-space renovations and the ADA elevator. Option C would focus on the north-side enclosure only — removing the chain-link fence on Arsenal and creating an interior commons and single-point secure entry.
Committee members asked for cost estimates and phasing details. A board member said the low bid when the project was last solicited was about $18,000,000; the design team said exact current bid estimates were not available at the meeting and committed to providing updated figures. The presenters said the work could be bid and delivered in phases if the board wished, with an anticipated design/documentation period of roughly 10 weeks after approval and an approximate 13-month construction schedule for the first phase, depending on scope.
On parking and circulation, the design team estimated "an additional, like, 24 spaces, give or take," and agreed to follow up with an exact count. The team also noted that if both entryways were in scope, construction could be staged so work proceeds on one side at a time while students enter from the opposite side.
Votes at a glance: the committee approved the minutes from the 11/17/2025 open session earlier in the meeting (motion by Mister Marston; second recorded; unanimous 'Yes' votes recorded) and later voted to adjourn to closed session (motion and second recorded; unanimous 'Yes' votes recorded). The committee did not take a formal vote on any CVPA/CSMB scope during this session.
Next steps: the design team will provide updated cost estimates, an exact parking count, and market valuation information requested by the committee; members may be asked to indicate a preferred scope or phasing strategy at a subsequent meeting.
