Ladue Horton Watkins High School, St. Louis, MO

Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis, Missouri—originally built in 1951—had seen its last major renovation in 1964. The school was crowded and lacked the latest learning technology. In 2016, an extensive renovation project – including the addition of a third story – for $82 million was approved.
 
Terrazzo now plays a key role in a new point of pride for the high school. Locations throughout the building feature graphics promoting and celebrating school pride. The high school seal is inlaid in the terrazzo floor of the student entry, and the epoxy terrazzo logo shows the tower of the original building.

The sand and epoxy infill for the terrazzo installation of the bench seating area made for an unusual and challenging aspect for this work. The height (21 inches) and width (36 inches) needed to be in perfect alignment for the inlayed wood seats and precast terrazzo steps.
 
During the two-year span of the project, the architect, general contractor, and terrazzo installer all had to coordinate to keep the 43,000 square foot renovation and addition moving along. Missouri Terrazzo manufactured numerous samples for the architect’s approval to achieve the desired colors. The strip layout required time and careful work to ensure it was done correctly. SM Wilson Construction’s superintendent ensured the numerous work areas were clear and ready for the terrazzo installation.

The renovated school’s bright, long lasting, timeless terrazzo floor ties together the renovated original high school and the new expansion. That terrazzo floor will undoubtedly add color and endurance over the coming decades for the thousands of students who will walk its halls.

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