$50 Million Investment in St Louis from Microsoft Follows Opening of New Building at Cortex

CIC nearly doubles St. Louis footprint in 4220, Microsoft opens new regional headquarters and technology hub in St. Louis.

The new 4220 Duncan building represents the next phase of development in St. Louis at the Cortex Innovation Community, which will see the opening of the new Microsoft Technology Center, as part of a $50 Million investment in local jobs, facilities and software grants.

The 4220 Duncan Building at Cortex in St Louis’ Central West End neighborhood.

4220 Duncan

Designed by architecture firm HOK with a uniquely modern design, Wexford’s 4220 building is five stories and 182,000 square feet of multi-tenant commercial space, featuring a two-story atrium lobby, a full-service restaurant, indoor and outdoor event and conference space, and a full-service health club. Construction was led by Tarlton and began in early 2017.

“The new 4220 Duncan represents another important step in Wexford’s continued development of a dynamic Knowledge Community, in St Louis, that continues to bring together intellectual capital, entrepreneurial activity and corporate engagement.” said James Berens, President and CEO of Wexford Science & Technology.

“Spaces like 4220 and others we’ve developed in Cortex as well as the Bio-Research and Development Growth (BRDG) Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center provide a center of gravity and congregation for the well recognized and expanding innovation and entrepreneurial activities taking place across St. Louis.”

CIC

Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) will be a key anchor tenant of 4220, occupying 41,000 square feet, bringing CIC’s total St. Louis footprint to 160,000 square feet across three facilities in Cortex.

Headquartered in Cambridge, MA with locations in Boston, St. Louis, Miami, Philadelphia, and internationally in Rotterdam, Netherlands – CIC has served more than 4,400 startups and growing technology companies and is presently home to more than 1,800 companies. CIC provides offices and innovation spaces for companies large and small, allowing them to easily access resources and create substantive, positive global impact.

“We couldn’t be more excited about the look and feel of the space, and to have the ability to serve some of the clients we’ve had like, Epharmix and SensrTRX, who need room to expand,” said Kim Plank, general manager of CIC St. Louis.

“It allows us the opportunity to work with the next wave of incredible innovators and funders who are finding their way to St. Louis and to continue to collaborate with the community and the growing ecosystem with a larger offering. We’ve enjoyed being a part of the growing innovation community in the St. Louis region over the past 3 years and can’t wait to see what happens next.”

Expanding Facilities

Other tenants of 4220 include Microsoft (30,000 square feet); BJC Healthcare’s new WellAware fitness center (16,000 square feet), that will be open to the public; Accenture (7,000 square feet); the new Innovation Hall Powered by Venture Café St. Louis (15,000 square feet); 23 City Blocks Hospitality Group’s The Chocolate Pig restaurant; and other yet to be announced tenants.

“As we continue to build our innovation community here at Cortex, we are thrilled to have state-of-the-art facilities and critical anchors like CIC, BJC Healthcare, Microsoft and Accenture leading the way,” said Dennis Lower, president of Cortex. “The presence of 4220 and its tenants adds further evidence to the reality that St. Louis has become one of the leading growth cities for innovation companies.”

Microsoft Technology Center

Microsoft’s new headquarters brings more than 150 employees to the City of St. Louis and the company said it is investing more than $50 million in local jobs, facilities and software grants.

“Opening a new Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) in the thriving Central West End district is exciting for our company and our customers, as St. Louis continues to support a booming technology scene,” said Ervin Flores, general manager, South Central Region, at Microsoft. “We are thrilled to support local startups, as well as enterprises large and small, through our work with the Cortex Innovation Community.”

Microsoft’s MTC will support the technology-driven community with unique amenities and showcase the latest technologies that drive digital transformation across many industries, with a special focus on healthcare.

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