Reconnecting St. Louis

Green Street, in redeveloping the Armory, aims to link St. Louis’ past with its future.

- Alexandra Vollman

IT’S FITTING, IN light of the building’s significant role in the city’s history, that the St. Louis Armory would become part of the blueprint for its future. Built in 1938 for the 138th Infantry Regiment of the Missouri National Guard, the structure is impressive in both architecture and history. It’s played host to not just military drills but also musical acts, and is credited with helping some of the greats of tennis—among them Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, and Butch Buchholz—develop their game.

This once-vibrant tennis hub, music venue, and military facility for years sat vacant and dilapidated. But now it’s getting a new lease on life thanks, in part, to the work of one passionate tennis player and an experienced developer.

Rick Randall, who grew up playing tennis at the Armory, remembers the polished floorboards and the effect they had on a player’s game. “The wood was very slick, so when the ball hit it, it bounced extremely fast,” he says. “It produced a type of player who had great return of serve and a shorter, more concise stroke.”

The atmosphere, he recalls, was supportive: players of all skill levels hanging out, swapping techniques as they waited for their turn on one of the five courts. “You learned a lot about tennis just sitting there talking to these guys and hitting balls with some of these top players,” says Randall.