A visit to BJC’s Plaza West Tower

BJC’s new Plaza West Tower, a 16-story patient care facility, opened earlier this month at the corner of Kingshighway and Barnes-Jewish Plaza. CannonDesign is responsible for both the architecture and interior design. The exterior complements BJC’s Parkview Tower at Forest Park Avenue and St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s expansion, and completes the unified architecture and skyline for the Washington University Medical Campus along Kingshighway. The new tower has 224 private inpatient rooms designed for heart and vascular patients, 56 private intensive care unit rooms, advanced imaging, and offers the latest innovations in surgical preparation and recovery.

Plaza West Tower sits on the site of the former Queeny Tower, which was taken down floor by floor in 2021. When Queeny Tower opened in 1965, it was the ne plus ultra of hospital accommodations. Edgar Monsanto Queeny (video here), who was chairman of the Barnes Hospital board at the time, wanted a new facility to replace the original pavilion located on Kingshighway for patients with private insurance who would pay for their care.  Some patients, for instance, just needed tests, so they were looking for hotel-like accommodations.

When Queeny Tower opened, there was a pool and restaurant on the top floor, which was decorated as a Swiss Chalet that had wonderful views of Forest Park. (Here is an informative article about Queeny Tower.  It seems unbelievable now, but friends would meet there for lunch or dinner, and patients would head upstairs for a meal too.  My uncle, Gordon Heiss, operated the Queeny Tower Restaurant, and my aunt Aloyse, an interior designer, with assistance from my sister Sandy Donegan, was responsible for both the restaurant interior and the lobby design.

Fast forward to 2025 and my tour of the new facility. Here is a photo of one of the entries to Plaza West Tower off Barnes Hospital Plaza. What struck me right away is how wide the hallways are on each floor.

This is an example of the decor by one of the elevator banks.   According to the press release, “Each inpatient floor has a different botanical garden theme, and the imaging floors have themes of different areas of Forest Park.  The botanicals were chosen for their calming and uplifting qualities. They also act as wayfinding for patients and visitors.

Artwork by local artists are displayed throughout the building, examples above and below.

The fifth floor is home to two roof gardens designed for relaxation, with seating inspired by the tower’s floral themes.

The fifth floor also has a separate family area with a kitchenette, nap areas, showers, laundry room, business center, and concierge services.

Each floor has a quiet seating area with an 180 degree panoramic view.

The spacious hospital rooms at Plaza West Tower feature large windows with gorgeous views of Forest Park. The rooms are large enough that the patient’s bed can be turned around to face the park instead of the hallway.

Medical equipment is located on two movable towers instead of against the wall as it is in most hospitals. There is also a lift to make it easier for nursing staff to move the patient. All the rooms can be converted to ICU rooms if necessary. Under the window there is a banquette that can accommodate a family member that wishes to stay overnight.

From the press release: “More than 3,700 architects, engineers, project managers, skilled trades men and women, apprentices, and interns were engaged in the construction of the tower, providing significant economic impact to the region…”

So, after months of being impacted by traffic delays and detours during the year Queeny Tower was taken down, and while Plaza West Tower was being constructed, it’s wonderful that this fabulous facility is finally up and running. We’re so fortunate to have BJC in the City of St. Louis, especially in the CWE.