The Jewel Box, designed by the city's chief engineer, William C.E. Becker in 1936, remains one of St. Louis' most unusual buildings with its unique combination of functional design and art deco style. Christner breathed new life into the conservatory, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While maintaining the original character and footprint of the building, we restored the entire structure and reconfigured the interior to allow flexibility for floral displays, weddings and special events.
Size: 7,500 sf
Status: Completed 2002
Restoration of the Jewel Box has contributed a key component to major improvements of Forest Park spearheaded by non-profit Forest Park Forever and the City of St. Louis.
The Jewel Box's distinctive shape was originally created to bring abundant light into the display area and also resist hail damage.
Central to Christner's redesign is the new reflecting pool. Only 1.5 inches at its deepest point, it serves twin goals of providing a centerpiece for floral displays and, when drained, seating space for special events.
The new limestone-lined reflecting pool is accented by distinctive interior lighting, and a series of arched jet fountains that mirror the building's arched beams.
Christner's graphic designers created a signage program for the Jewel Box, including the glass panel at the entrance acknowledging the donors who made the restoration possible.
A specialized cleaning process applied to the 18,000 square feet of glass restored the appearance of the Jewel Box to its original grandeur and creates a lush environment for the plant life.
A catering kitchen, bride's room, furniture storage areas and restrooms have been tucked into the rear of the space, behind a handsome brick wall that reinterprets the historic front façade of the building.
