Clayco Completes Reinsurance Group of America's $150M HQ

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Reinsurance Group of America's $150-million global headquarters in Chesterfield, Missouri was recently completed. Clayco served as the project's design builder and Gensler was the project architect. Jay Longo, president of Forum Studio (Clayco's full-service architecture practice), was the lead project designer and Fox Architects was the building design consultant and interior architect.

Building construction began in spring of 2013 and was completed in the fall of 2014. Clayco labored through a record-setting winter and, despite over 80 lost days due to inclement weather, was able to bring the project in on time and under budget for RGA.

The design of the headquarters reflects both the global brand of RGA and the local roots of its people, by stacking two high-tech, five-story glass office towers and connecting them through a two-story stone clad amenity base that hides the underground parking structure. Phase one of the LEED Silver facility is 405,000 square feet and can accommodate 1,450 people with the option for a phase two, 250,000-square-foot expansion.  

The twin glass work bars are supported by a limestone base, in which both work bars have a 40-inch structured cantilever design offering great views. There is a perimeter walkway around the entire building for employees, as well. The lower-level meeting space also serves as a dining area and includes a workout facility. The exterior features an expansive patio area and lush native landscapes, which filter all of the site rainwater discharge as part of the LEED design.

The building design is energy efficient due to a unique curtainwall system with ceramic fritting, state-of-the-art HVAC system, use of energy-efficient lighting and a window shade system that automatically activates based upon solar demand changes—all of which can be controlled and monitored via a building integration system.

The RGA facility will bring 300 new jobs to the St. Louis area. Employees from RGA's Chesterfield and St. Charles offices will move to the site, as well.