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Brick Relief Sculpture Nearly Removed from Council Towers

July 15, 2011 History/Preservation, Midtown 12 Comments

ABOVE: Just one small section remains on the east face of Council Towers

A brick sculpture once covered the east facade of the 27-story Council Tower Senior building. Here is the description when the 5-building Council Plaza complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007:

A 250 foot relief sculpture was designed and created in brick by artists Saunders Schultz and William Severson, nationally known sculptors and is visible on the St. Louis skyline on the east elevation. The bas relief carving took 15 months to complete and used aboutÂ 100,000 brick. The sculpture utilizes a series of abstract arch geometric designs representing, “man’s continual striving toward God.” The artists also designed a small fountain within the complexÂ and a sculpture within the fountain, Catfish and Crystal.

For a picture with the relief sculpture intact see this post at Saint Louis Patina or earlier discussion at NextSTL. I’m saddened by the removal of this sculpture.

- Steve Patterson

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intheknow

Fear not, due to the fact that this project is utilizing historic tax credits the developer is required to recreate the sculpture. The original design was discovered and the mural will be rebuilt (once the mason’s union ends their strike).
intheknow

Fear not, due to the fact that this project is utilizing historic tax credits the developer is required to recreate the sculpture. The original design was discovered and the mural will be rebuilt (once the mason’s union ends their strike).
Mike Owens

I too think this mural will be replicated, as promised by the developer, and required by the city.
Saunders Schulz sat for an interview with me several years ago about the mural. He and his co-artists had to swing on scaffolding to put up the brick mural. It was his biggest and most memorable job. The Teamster’s Union trust fund paid for the project. An interesting mix: art and union.
Mike Owens

I too think this mural will be replicated, as promised by the developer, and required by the city.
Saunders Schulz sat for an interview with me several years ago about the mural. He and his co-artists had to swing on scaffolding to put up the brick mural. It was his biggest and most memorable job. The Teamster’s Union trust fund paid for the project. An interesting mix: art and union.
http://www.facebook.com/davidwoodruff David A. Woodruff

I didn’t realize they were going to put theÂ sculptureÂ back. Â Good. Â
http://www.facebook.com/davidwoodruff David A. Woodruff

I didn’t realize they were going to put the sculpture back. Good.

http://urbanreviewstl.com/ Steve Patterson

I’m not holding my breath.

http://urbanreviewstl.com/ Steve Patterson

I’m not holding my breath.
bonwich

Those are the old Scopia boys, aren’t they?

If you look closely in the photo (or as you drive by), the yellow chalk markings for placing the bricks correctly are still on the building.

(And don’t believe everything that Owens reports. )
bonwich

Those are the old Scopia boys, aren’t they?

If you look closely in the photo (or as you drive by), the yellow chalk markings for placing the bricks correctly are still on the building.

(And don’t believe everything that Owens reports. )
Anonymous

The big question is whether any new sculpture is detailed structurally to last longer. Great concept, but falling of the building in only a few decades indicates a less than stellar concern for longevity and structural concerns.
In my mind the first question is one of structural detail and whether the sculpture itself will last as long as the masonry, 500 years or more.
gmichaud

The big question is whether any new sculpture is detailed structurally to last longer. Great concept, but falling of the building in only a few decades indicates a less than stellar concern for longevity and structural concerns.
In my mind the first question is one of structural detail and whether the sculpture itself will last as long as the masonry, 500 years or more.

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Brick Relief Sculpture Nearly Removed from Council Towers

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