Grand Center Arts Academy Emerges as New Anchor in Grand Center

Directly across from Powell Symphony Hall, two long-overlooked buildings are poised to become a nucleus for Grand Center. NextSTL was given a construction tour of the progress. The Beaux Arts Building at 711 N. Grand was built in 1925 as offices for the Carter Carburetor Corporation. Originally intended to be a skyscraper, the Great Depression intervened and only the two story podium was completed. The adjoining building is 1929 Pythias Hall which was used by the Knights of Pythias as a meeting hall. The lower floors were used for valet parking facilities and later as parts storage for Carter.

Long vacant and left in limbo by the 2008 collapse of the Pyramid Companies, the buildings were sold at auction for $3.2 million in 2009. Since then The Lawrence Group has spearheaded an ambitious $21.4 million adaptive reuse project to turn the property into the home of the Grand Center Arts Academy. The project fuses bold colors and modern conveniences with the historic architecture of the building.