For nearly 100 years, this facility was home to Crunden-Martin Manufacturing, which produced everything from wood homewares to stamped metal goods, including helmets for American soldiers during WWII. It has been largely abandoned since a fire destroyed the roof and timber structure of the western-most building. Today, the architect is revitalizing these historic buildings as a hub for advanced manufacturing and emerging construction technologies in St. Louis' Gateway South Innovation District. The Crunden-Martin Redevelopment will activate a section of downtown with food, retail, public space on the ground floor, and digital labs, offices, and prototyping spaces on the upper floors. One upper floor will house a material library and museum, bringing together universities, builders, designers, and entrepreneurs for research and hands-on experience. Six building additions have formed around a central rail spur. The design opens the roof of the rail spur, transforming it into a commercial street that brings light and circulation deep into the building. Subtle exterior adjustments preserve the buildings' historic identity. The freestanding walls of the western building, whose roof burned in 2011, will be reinforced by a new structure to create a six-story high-bay workspace for construction technology prototyping. A narrow interior stack will host laboratories, offices, prototyping, and communal spaces. This building will connect to the eastern block by a restored bridge over South Second Street.