The Cortex Innovation Community is a hub of innovation and technology established in St. Louis in 2002. Now home to over 350 technology-related companies, the complete renovation of 4340 Duncan (the historic Crescent building) became the new home to BioSTL, Confluence, and other bio- and medical technology companies. RBLD partnered with HOK and Ross & Baruzzini to design interior and exterior lighting for the renovated 4-story, 85,000-square-foot multi-tenant office and laboratory space. The 2-story glass-enclosed lab and adjacent grand stair are prominent features in the core of the building. High laboratory light levels were achieved by ambient light and task lights at lab benches.

Because budget and flexibility were top priorities, selecting an economical building-standard fixture and applying it throughout the project as a pendant, recessed, or wall-mounted linear LED served to simplify and unify the spaces. The RBLD team also painstakingly organized and tagged the porcelain industrial fixtures from the original building to be selectively restored and reused throughout the facility. This restored historical space is sure to inspire essential innovations that will carry these researchers far into the future.