Gensler

The RGA structure features glass that maximizes daylight while keeping efficient building standards.

Reinsurance Group of America Inc. (RGA) began work on its new global $150 million headquarters in Chesterfield in February 2013 and plans to complete construction of the 405,000-square-foot building on time in October.

The decision to build a new headquarters over 17 acres stemmed from RGA’s expansion over the last few years and estimated growth in the future.

“We looked at many options and it became increasingly clear to us that building a new, permanent global headquarters facility would provide RGA with the space and flexibility to accommodate our anticipated growth,” said President and CEO Greig Woodring.

The company, which began business in St. Louis more than 40 years ago and is one of the largest global providers of life reinsurance, is the fourth-largest company in Missouri by revenue with $10.3 billion in 2013. RGA currently has offices in 26 countries and employs 1,000 people in the U.S., 850 of whom are based in St. Louis. That number is up from The new headquarters will be able to accommodate 1,450 people, and can be expanded an additional 250,000 square feet should more space be needed in the future. RGA’s workforce has grown from 702 employees in 2003 to more than 1,800 today.

RGA employed Clayco as the builder and Project Director Tony Mezines said the contractor had a hand in other engineering and design elements.

The building features two high-performance glasswork sections atop a natural, multi-colored limestone base. The garage is cast-in-place concrete with post-tensioned decks and designed to minimize the cars visible, and the top floor is clad in a composite metal panel, Mezines said.

Fox Architects’ Bob Dunn and Forum Studio’s Jay Longo led the interior and exterior, respectively. Previously Longo was the design director at Gensler.

“The building design was based on RGA’s core strength — knowledge of local markets — their business growth is global,” Dunn said.

Its most distinctive feature is the glass. With visible transparency, the glass maximizes daylight and views while still maintaining building energy standards Dunn said. Longo also said the glass is unique due to the ceramic patterning on it.

RGA plans to move all St. Louis-based employees from its current offices in Chesterfield and in St. Charles to the new headquarters.