Lawrence Group’s landscape architecture practice recently completed a plaza design project for the Maritz campus in St. Louis, MO that focuses on connecting employees to nature and encourages respite and relaxation.
Completed in October 2025, the 1385 Plaza project was designed by Lawrence Group with the goal of providing an inviting connection between a pair of pre-existing buildings within the footprint of a previously demolished office building.
Maritz is a sales and marketing services company founded in 1894 that designs and operates employee recognition/reward programs, sales channel incentive programs and customer loyalty programs, and plans corporate and association trade shows, meetings and events. Its headquarters are located at 1375 N Highway Dr. in Fenton, a suburb of St. Louis.
The new 57,000 sq ft plaza incorporates outdoor work/dining spaces nestled into a native Missouri landscape that boasts colorful wildflowers among a striking and dense tree canopy. Large organically shaped sitting areas are defined with modern materials and oversized round benches that repeat down the center of this connecting space on the corporate campus.
Site furnishings, charging stations, lighting and speakers are thoughtfully located throughout the plaza to facilitate events while providing convenience and comfort with the idea of becoming a “jewel” of the Maritz campus.
“Whether it is used for connecting A to B, or to host a reception, this plaza is designed to support the functions of the corporate campus while also allowing for chances to slow down and experience a quick shot of nature,” said Lawrence Group Landscape Architect Jordan Wilkinson, PLA, ASLA. “The plaza’s design takes a linear connection and transforms it into an inviting experience with naturally flowing walkways designed to tempt employees and guests into slowing down.”
Lawrence Group led the design team and coordinated Metropolitan Sewer District approvals with St. Louis-based CDG Engineers. Landscape architects also implemented Best Management Practices regarding stormwater runoff and collection in the plaza so as not to interfere with the multitude of buried utilities in the project area.
“At a larger scale, stormwater in the project area is captured and redirected by a low berm along the southern edge of the plaza, where it is transitioned into a hydrodynamic separator to carefully capture pollutants and sediment before it is released into the watershed,” said Wilkinson. “The multitude of native perennials and shrubs help to slow any stormwater runoff in the plaza, while offering a chance for stormwater to infiltrate and seep into the soil via the deep roots of these plants.”
Lawrence Group conducted extensive engagement sessions with Maritz stakeholders and staff throughout the duration of the privately funded project to ensure a streamlined design and construction process. Lawrence Group further provided Construction Administration services following the design’s completion that provided significant cost savings while ensuring the project would meet budget and schedule goals without compromising on the final design quality.
“The 1385 Plaza project repositions a major portion of Maritz’ Fenton workplace campus, creating a new outdoor space for leisure and onsite events which significantly enhances the employee experience and that of our numerous Fenton campus tenants. Lawrence Group was a critical partner throughout the entire project, leading a collaborative design process that prioritized Maritz’s input and operational needs while providing responsive, ongoing support and communication,” said Mark Alspaw, Vice President, Real Estate, Property Services & Security at Maritz. “The Lawrence Group team iterated on numerous concepts to reach the beautiful native planting design, while ensuring ample space for future additions and expansion of the plaza as our campus needs continue to evolve. The 1385 Plaza is a beautiful new addition to the Maritz campus that will serve us well for years to come.”
Lawrence Group’s relationship with Maritz started in 2014 when the architectural firm was selected to provide on-call design services for the entire 73-acre Maritz campus. Since then, Lawrence Group has completed more than 30 campus projects totaling 650,000 square feet of corporate office space, including third party tenant space for clients such as Panera Bread, Wally’s, Ricoh, and Scholastic Book Fairs. The 1385 Plaza project is the latest extension of this longstanding relationship.