Cortex Innovation Community

{{Short description|Innovation district in Saint Louis, Missouri, US}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = Cortex Innovation Community

| image = Image:Cortex_Innovation_Community_Logo.png

| caption =

| founder = Washington University
BJC HealthCare
UMSL
Saint Louis University
Missouri Botanical Garden

| type = Tax-exempt 501(c)3 Non-profit

| tax_id =

| registration_id =

| founded_date = {{Start date|2002}}

| location = Central West End, St. Louis

| coordinates = {{coord|38.63465415|-90.25115899250936|dim:1000_region:US-MO|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| origins =

| key_people = June McAllister Fowler, Board Chair, Sam Fiorello, President and CEO, William Henry Danforth, John Dubinsky{{cite web| url=http://eqstl.com/conceiving-cortex-cortex-special-feature-chapter-1-2000-2002/ | title=Conceiving Cortex: Cortex Special Feature, Chapter 1, 2000-2002| first=Mary | last=Mack | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=27 February 2017 | work=EQSTL }}{{cite web| url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/print-edition/2012/11/30/john-dubinsky.html | title=John Dubinsky | first=Greg | last= Edwards | accessdate=20 September 2018 | date=30 November 2012 | work=St. Louis Business Journal }}{{cite web| url=https://www.stifel.com/investor-relations/board-of-directors/john-p-dubinsky | title=Stifel Official Bio | accessdate=20 September 2018 }}

| area_served = St. Louis, Missouri, United States

| products =

| services =

| focus = Land use, land development, redevelopment, placemaking, marketing, startups, financing and fundraising.

| mission =

| method =

| revenue =

| endowment =

| num_volunteers =

| num_employees = 18

| num_members = 22 directors

| subsid =

| owner =

| motto =

| former name = Cortex West Redevelopment Corporation

| website = {{URL|https://cortexstl.org}}

| dissolved =

| footnotes =

}}

Cortex Innovation Community, Cortex Innovation District, or Cortex is an innovation district in the Midtown neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri.{{cite web | url=https://cortexstl.com/ | accessdate=18 September 2018 | title=Cortex Official Website | archive-date=11 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411235753/https://cortexstl.com/ | url-status=dead }} A 200-acre hub for technology and biological science research, development, and commercialization,{{cite web| url=http://www.ninenet.org/cortex-archive/ | accessdate=18 September 2018 | title=Cortex - Oral History | date=28 August 2018 }} Cortex is a main location for the city's technology startup companies.{{cite web| url=https://cortexstl.com/the-district/ | accessdate=18 September 2018 | title=Cortex Official The District }}{{cite web| url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2017/12/05/what-to-look-for-in-a-city-when-youre-relocating-for-work/#3f6708d467ad | title=What To Look For In A City When You're Relocating For Work | first=William | last=Arruda | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=5 December 2017 | work=Forbes }} It is near Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Cortex officials say their master plan calls for $2.3 billion of construction, producing more than 4.5 million square feet of mixed-use development to house 13,000 jobs in technology.

Cortex 3.0, a $170 million expansion was completed in fall 2018.{{cite web| url=http://eqstl.com/cortexs-evolution-life-science-district-magnet-st-louis-innovators-feature-series/ | title=Cortex's Evolution From A Life Science District To A Magnet For St. Louis Innovators: A Feature Series | first=Mary | last=Mack | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=27 February 2017 | work=EQSTL }}{{cite web| url=http://eqstl.com/cortexs-evolution-life-science-district-magnet-st-louis-innovators-feature-series/ | title=Cortex Looks Ahead: Cortex Special Feature, Chapter 4, 2017 And Beyond | first=Mary | last=Mack | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=2 March 2017 | work=EQSTL }}

History

In 1998, William Henry Danforth, former chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis, sought to help the region better build upon its strengths in medicine and plant sciences. He formed the Coalition for Plant and Life Sciences, now known as BioSTL, which led to the creation of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

Danforth and John Dubinsky, CEO of financial consulting firm Westmoreland Associates and the eventual chairman of the Cortex board, went to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to study Kendall Square, a noted innovation district, to see how the concept could be used in St. Louis.

The idea was to create a district where companies could have access to talent, new technology, labs, and intellectual property.

The Midtown neighborhood was selected because the founding institutions are nearby and millennials wanted to live and work in the nearby urban areas.{{cite web| url=https://www.curbed.com/2018/8/7/17658662/university-real-estate-development-startup| accessdate=18 September 2018 | title=Universities, chasing the startup economy, reshape urban real estate | first= Patrick | last=Sisson | date=7 Aug 2018 }}

In 2002, Cortex was founded as a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization{{cite web|url=https://cortexstl.com/who-we-are/|title=Cortex Official Who We Are|accessdate=18 September 2018}} by Washington University in St. Louis, BJC HealthCare (BJC), University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL), Saint Louis University, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. These founders contributed a total of $29 million to buy land and serve as collateral for loans: Washington University, $15 million; BJC and SLU, $5 million apiece; and UMSL, $4 million.

The Cortex West Redevelopment Corporation was classified by the city under Missouri statute Chapter 353 as a master developer of the district. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay allowed Cortex to redevelop the area broadly in the "public interest" by issuing tax abatements and using eminent domain.

Cortex hired CEO Dennis Lower, who executed a plan called Cortex 2.0 and converted the district from strictly bioscience to an open mixed-used district and added support for startup technology companies.{{cite web| url=http://eqstl.com/cortexs-evolution-life-science-district-magnet-st-louis-innovators-feature-series/ | title=Cortex Shifts Focus: Cortex Special Feature, Chapter 3, 2010-2016 | first=Mary | last=Mack | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=1 March 2017 | work=EQSTL }}

In summer 2014, Square, the payments company set up by St. Louis natives Jim McKelvey and Jack Dorsey, opened offices at Cortex 4240.

In 2015, Ikea opened in Cortex.

In 2018, Microsoft opened its first Midwest headquarters in Cortex building 4220.

In fall 2018, once Venture Cafe Innovation Hall opens at the 4220 Building in Cortex, 23 City Blocks Hospitality Group's restaurant and cafe, The Chocolate Pig will open.{{cite web| url=http://www.feastmagazine.com/the-feed/st_louis_news/article_e7ee9272-3d93-11e8-b775-b773792b4624.html | title=The Chocolate Pig to Open at Cortex Innovation Hall This Fall | first=Nancy | last=Stiles | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=11 April 2018 | work=Feast Magazine }}

In June 2018, AON announced it would move 200 employees to the 4220 building.{{cite web| url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/aon-relocating-employees-from-clayton-to-st-louis-cortex-district/article_04bcae19-7754-5009-8ed4-0836c00cca0f.html | title=Aon relocating 200 employees from Clayton to St. Louis' Cortex district | first=Brian | last=Feldt | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=8 June 2018 | work=St. Louis Post Dispatch }}

In March 2020, Washington University School of Medicine announced the construction of a new $616 million, 11 story, 609,000-square-foot neuroscience research building which will sit at the eastern edge of the Medical Campus in the Cortex Innovation Community. Construction of the building is set to be finished in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/washington-university-to-break-ground-on-major-neuroscience-research-hub/|title=Washington University to break ground on major neuroscience research hub|date=2020-03-06|website=Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}}

One of the primary companies building Cortex is Wexford, which had as of 2018 developed three properties and a total of 536,903 square feet.{{cite web| url=http://wexfordscitech.com/projects/cortex/ | title=Wexford + Cortex | accessdate=19 September 2018 | date=2015-12-29 }}

Facts

After 14 years, Cortex was credited with $500 million of investment and 3,800 technology jobs.{{cite web| url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/metropolitan-revolution/2016/05/05/in-st-louis-a-gateway-to-innovation-and-inclusion/ | title=In St. Louis, a gateway to innovation and inclusion | first=Julie | last=Wagner | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=5 May 2016 | work=Brookings }}
Installation of MetroLink light-rail station called "Cortex station".{{cite web| url=https://source.wustl.edu/2018/07/cortex-metrolink-station-to-open-july-31/ | title=Cortex MetroLink Station to open July 31 | accessdate=18 September 2018 | author=Diane Toroian Keaggy | date=24 July 2018 | work=Washington University The Source }}{{cite web| url=http://www.metrostlouis.org/nextstop/metro-announces-opening-date-for-cortex-metrolink-station/ | title=Metro Announces Opening Date for Cortex Metrolink Station | date=29 June 2018 | accessdate=18 September 2018 }}{{cite web| url=http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/cortex-metrolink-stop-opens-promises-tech-job-growth#stream/0 | title=Cortex MetroLink stop opens with promises of tech job growth | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=31 July 2018 | author=Kae M. Petrin }}
Over 370 companies are based in Cortex.{{Citation needed|reason=Fact changed by anon ip but, no reference to support the claim.|date=September 2018}}
4220 is a $53 million building that houses Microsoft and Innovation Hall, a 13,800-square-foot space based upon Venture Café’s District Hall in Boston.{{cite web | url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/developer-plans-more-buildings-in-st-louis-booming-cortex-innovation/article_a5a0a77d-b077-51c6-8627-1df0e0fe49fb.html | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=13 April 2018 | first=Brian | last=Feldt | title=Developer plans more buildings in St. Louis' booming Cortex innovation district }}{{cite web| url=https://www.rejournals.com/tarlton-overseeing-construction-of-st-louis-innovation-hall-20180907| work=rejournal | title=Tarlton Overseeing Construction of St. Louis Innovation Hall | accessdate=18 September 2018 }}
A $25 million hotel with 129 rooms.{{cite web| url=http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/aloft-hotel-breaks-ground-cortex | title=Aloft Hotel Breaks Ground in Cortex | date=25 July 2018 | accessdate=18 September 2018 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/new-million-cortex-development-to-add-hotel-apartments-parking-garage/article_3ca0ad4a-ab02-5c5e-9c5b-f16d6a51a374.html | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=20 October 2016 | author=Jacob Barker | author2=Tim Bryant | title=New $170 million Cortex development to add hotel, apartments, parking garage }}
Phase one of a five-level parking garage started in fall 2018 for $14.7 million.{{cite web| url=http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/aloft-hotel-breaks-ground-cortex | title=Work starts on parking garage at Cortex | accessdate=18 September 2018 | date=13 August 2018 }}
Esri expanded its presence in St. Louis at Cortex to serve the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which completing its Next NGA West campus.{{cite web| url=http://www.esri.com/esri-news/releases/18-2qtr/esri-expands-st-louis-office-to-new-space-in-tech-district | title=Esri Expands St. Louis Office to New Space in Tech District | accessdate=19 September 2018 | date=30 May 2018 }}{{cite web| url=http://nextngawest.com | title=Next NGA West | accessdate=19 September 2018 | work=Next NGA West Official Site }}

Innovation centers

= CET St. Louis =

The Center for Emerging Technologies (CET) is developing and establishing next-generation biomedical science and other advanced technology companies.{{cite web| url=https://cetstl.com | accessdate=18 September 2018 | title=Center for Emerging Technology }}

= BioGenerator =

BioGenerator discovers technologies and services with potential with an academic, research, or entrepreneur to make a company.{{cite web| url=http://biogenerator.org | accessdate=18 September 2018 | title=Biogenerator }}

In 2018, BioGenerator officials announced they will anchor the new Cortex biotech building.{{cite web| url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/biogenerator-plans-to-anchor-cortex-biotech-building/article_98c5e3a4-5e1a-5024-bbbd-f25595fd8a06.html | accessdate=18 September 2018 | title=BioGenerator plans to anchor Cortex biotech building | work=St. Louis Post Dispatch | first=Jacob | last=Barker | date=18 April 2018 }}

= CIC St. Louis =

Cambridge Innovation Center provides services for startups and companies including innovation spaces and coworking. CIC supports innovation in public relations, law, education, technology and life sciences.{{cite web| url=https://cic.com/stlouis | accessdate=18 September 2018 | title=CIC Official }}

= Venture Cafe St. Louis =

Venture Café St. Louis is a nonprofit hosting community-focused events and programs that support early-stage entrepreneurs.

= COLLAB =

In May 2019, Washington University in St. Louis and Saint Louis University launched the COLLAB at Cortex. The universities intend to use the 7,700-square-foot suite for various joint and separate projects, including training students in cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and other high-demand fields. COLLAB is also intended to forge deals with industry to turn research discoveries into products; find or train technology workers; and pursue geospatial research, data science, and health informatics.{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2019 |title=SLU, WashU open innovation center in Cortex |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-journal/slu-washu-open-innovation-center-in-cortex/63-b55aea2f-babe-4222-ac40-09401b92a0ee |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=ksdk.com |language=en-US}}