KAI has been selected to lead stabilization and repair efforts at the historic Annie Malone Children and Family Services headquarters in St. Louis, with brick tuckpointing and masonry restoration included in the initial scope.
The approximately 15,200-square-foot building at 2612 Annie Malone Drive was constructed in 1922 and is tied to the legacy of Annie Turnbo Malone, an American businesswoman, inventor, and philanthropist. Annie Malone Children and Family Services has served vulnerable children and families for more than 100 years.
The organization secured $1 million through the St. Louis Development Corporation’s North Corridor Community Enhancement Grant Program to stabilize the building. KAI is serving as general contractor after a formal selection process.
According to the project team, the need for repairs started before a tornado struck north St. Louis on May 16, 2025. The tornado added damage and increased the urgency to protect the structure. The building also faced winter impacts tied to an aging boiler system. With the boiler out of service during extreme cold, parts of the sprinkler and domestic water lines froze. When temperatures rose, several lines burst and caused interior water damage.
“This is much more than a construction project for KAI,” said Gyasi H.L. Haynes, vice president of KAI Build, citing the organization’s importance to St. Louis.
KAI’s stabilization scope focuses on stopping further deterioration and weather exposure. Work includes emergency roof replacement and weatherproofing, structural stabilization measures, brick tuckpointing and masonry restoration, chimney repairs, drainage improvements, repairs connected to freeze-related water damage, and other protective measures intended to preserve the building’s historic integrity while positioning it for future restoration.
For mason contractors, the job is a clear reminder that stabilization on older brick buildings ties together water management and exterior envelope work. Roofs, chimneys, drainage, and mortar joints function as one system when the goal is to keep water out and protect historic masonry.
“Preserving this building is about much more than saving bricks and mortar,” said Keisha Lee, chief executive officer of Annie Malone Children and Family Services.
Read the full, original article from REJournals here.