Construction begins on new development

By Sonia Ahuja

Construction of the new corporate headquarters for Express Scripts Inc. is in full swing.

The 315,000 square-foot facility is being built near the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. Express Scripts, a pharmacy benefit management firm, is the first tenant in UMSL's 33-acre Business, Technology and Research Park.

The construction, which began in October, is progressing well, said Beth Cerrone-Kelly, site project coordinator for Clayco, which is teaming with McEagle Development of O'Fallon in developing the park.

"It's been really good," she said. "We've been busy trying to get the entire building enclosed."

The projected completion date is April 2007, Cerrone-Kelly said.

The new headquarters will house about 1,300 employees.

Julius Johnson, director of the research park, said Express Scripts will be an asset to the area.

"We think it is a catalyst for economic development in the area," he said.

George Paz, president and chief executive officer of Express Scripts, said the expansion to UMSL will help strengthen and grow the company.

"We envision a flourishing collaboration that will serve as a model for public/private initiatives throughout the United States," he said.

Daytime traffic is expected to increase substantially during the mornings and afternoons once the company is up and running.

Jonathan Yordy, a spokesman for UMSL, said on completion, the park is expected to bring more jobs to the campus. UMSL curators approved the park in July 2005.

Reach Sonia Ahuja at sahuja@yourjournal.com.