21c Museum Hotels has opened a 173-room property in the heart of downtown St Louis, Missouri. Partnering with architects Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaf + Goettel and interior designers from Hufft Projects and Bill Rooney Studio, the group has reimagined a 95-year-old Renaissance Revival-style YMCA building as a contemporary space that honours its historic roots.

The 10-storey development features over 14,000ft2 of museum exhibition space with site-specific art installations and rotating, curated exhibitions, while each of the guestooms is outfitted with exclusive artworks from artists who have strong ties to Missouri – Carmon Colangelo, Collin W Elliott, Brandon Forrest Frederick, Bethanie Irons and La Vispera to name just a few. Two luxurious 21c Suites add to the offer with double-height windows offering views of downtown St Louis, an entertaining space, living and dining rooms. The suites also boast a kitchenette and an upper-level fitness loft with equipment from Peloton, TechnoGym and Forme Mirror.

In addition to the museum, gallery space and accommodations, the property is also home to a 10,500ft2 athletic and wellness centre, Locust Street Athletic & Swim Club – an ode to its past as community recreation facility – which will be available to hotel guests and as a membership to the local community. The F&B programme meanwhile includes Good Press coffee shop and chef-driven restaurant Idol Wolf, both led by Matthew Daughaday. The building’s historic spaces, including the former gymnasium and fitness track, will be transformed into art-filled public meeting and event spaces equipped with the latest AV technology to host museum programming and other events from weddings to intimate soirees and small board meetings.

“The opening of 21c St Louis marks a new era for the 21c brand and the historically significant YMCA building,” says Sarah Robbins, COO of 21c Museum Hotels. “We are incredibly proud to be able to provide the community of St Louis and travellers alike with a space to come together, and with the opportunity to discover contemporary art around every corner. We hope that 21c St Louis will be a trusted anchor for the community and look forward to seeing our guests connect with the local culture of St Louis.”

The property’s exhibition space will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day and is free of charge. Among the installations created for 21c St Louis are O by Serkan Özkaya – an eight-foot diameter, spherical orb filled with distilled water, which magnifies, diffracts and alters the surrounding reception area. Elsewhere, Fallen Fruit – an immersive project of David Allen Burns and Austin Young – spans three floors within the historic main stairwell. Featuring materials sourced in and inspired by the city, the installation invites visitors to walk amidst its various elements, which include bespoke wallcoverings, carpeting, chandeliers and wall sculptures, while experiencing artwork entitled The Way Out West.

In addition, Missouri native Nick Cave and partner Bob Faust have combined elements from Cave’s recent retrospective exhibition, Forothermore – which featured his iconic Soundsuits – to create a kaleidoscopic artwork titled Until We Meet Again. Installed on the domed ceiling of the Good Press café, imagery in the artwork is both joyful and hopeful, while also referencing current issues and challenges. Located in the outdoor amphitheater on the building’s east side meanwhile, Viewfinder is an interactive sculpture by local artist and architect Chandler Ahrens; the piece was curated and produced in partnership with Laumeier Sculpture Park and Via Partnership. Through multiple viewing ports in the sculpture, visitors on the elevated patio can watch reflected tableaus of the surrounding architectural elements and busy streetscape.

21c St Louis also opens with three temporary group exhibitions, presented in the museum galleries and public spaces on the first and second floors, including Revival: Digging Into Yesterday, Planting Tomorrow – the major inaugural exhibition curated by 21c Chief Curator and Museum Director Alice Gray Stites: “Featuring over 70 artworks in a wide range of media, by 47 artists from all over the world, Revival explores the use of historical sources in contemporary art as a transformative lens to understand the past and the present, and through which to consider the future, as individuals and as a global community in St Louis,” she explains.

General Manager JP Roberts shares: “We’re thrilled to open the doors of 21c St Louis and welcome guests to this landmark property. We’ve worked tirelessly to ensure that we’re able to offer our local community and travellers from all over the globe the finest in contemporary art and hospitality, well known to the 21c brand.”

On the menu, Idol Wolf combines local and seasonal ingredients with Iberian sensibilities to create a Spanish inspired shared drinking and dining experience. Pintxos and tapas-style small plates anchor the offer, with larger plates influenced by the paellas, seafood and stews of Northern Spain. Whether dining solo at the bar, or at a large table with friends and family, the menu is designed to be sampled from, so that each guest can experience the energy and excitement as waves of food hit the table. An extensive spirit list, along with both old and new world cocktails and thoughtfully crafted zero-proof options, pair with every dish and serve as an added bonus to the global wine programme. Idol Wolf features indoor and outdoor seating for over 100 guests plus a 14-person private dining area, as well as a lounge area, bar and billiards room.

Good Press on the other hand was designed to be a hub for hotel guests and downtown residents alike. By utilising local roasters, growers, and purveyors like St Louis-based Big Heart Tea and Northwest Coffee, Good Press is committed to always putting the best of what the city has to offer front and centre. Whether quickly fuelling up in the morning or setting up shop for the afternoon, customers can expect to find quality coffee, classic café fare and the ambient buzz of community.

The lower level of 21c St Louis acts as a contemporary wellness destination for community members and guests, while paying homage to the property’s history as a YMCA. A social wellness space for renewing body, mind and spirit, the Locust Street Athletic & Swim Club provides a space of over 10,500ft2 for guests to relax and recharge, including the restored historic lap pool, hot tub, locker rooms, fitness centre and studios, steam and sauna and two spa treatment rooms.