T-Rex Purchases Lammert Building With Expansion In Mind

T-REX, one of the city's hottest startup incubators, has purchased perhaps the most heavily ornamented edifice on Washington Avenueβ€”the Lammert Building.

T-REx, one of the city’s hottest startup incubators, has purchased perhaps the most heavily ornamented edifice on Washington Avenueβ€”the Lammert Building. It’s a fitting home for an authentic St. Louis success story.

The exterior features four-story Corinthian pilasters capped by reclining sculptural figures. Arches repeat across the top of the building, echoing the arched grand entrywayβ€”where the brass revolving door inset in an arched wall of dark wood trim and glass give the entrance the appearance of a domed mantel clock.

The timing of the move by T-REx seems just right.

The Lammert will provide T-REX (short for Technology Regional Entrepreneur Exchange) with room to grow. Founded in 2011, they now boast more than 70 startups, accelerator programs, mentoring groups and venture capital firms.

The space will allow the addition of up to 50 more companies and 240 jobs over the next five years. T-REx will occupy three floors of the building and add 160,000 square feet of space. They will also invest about $1 million on renovations.

Located at 911 Washington Avenue, the Lammert is an Americanized French Renaissance Revival building built in 1898 and first occupied by Hargardine and McKitterick Dry Goods Company, where they remained until 1923. Lammert Furniture Company bought the building, renovated and altered the facade, including the addition of their inscribed name above the main entryway, where it remains today.

The building was designated a City Landmark in 1979. The spacious Post-Modern interior atrium is the result of a renovation in 1984.

T-REX is backed by the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and the city of St. Louis.

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