Downtown St. Louis’ 1976 stainless-steel cube sculpture ‘Synergism’ relocates from U.S. Bank Plaza to Chesterfield
A prominent piece of civic-era public art is being removed from Washington Avenue
A stainless-steel cube sculpture that has stood outside One U.S. Bank Plaza in downtown St. Louis since the mid-1970s is being relocated to Chesterfield, marking the end of a long-running association between a major downtown office tower and one of its most recognizable outdoor artworks.
The work, titled Synergism, is a polished stainless-steel cube designed to balance on one corner and punctuated by triangular openings. It was completed in 1976 and created by artists William Conrad Severson (1924–1999) and Saunders Schultz (born 1927). The sculpture measures about 20 feet by 15 feet by 15 feet and was commissioned for a bank plaza as a site-specific piece intended to respond visually to surrounding architecture through reflection and changing light.
What is happening and when
Removal operations were scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, with portions of Washington Avenue expected to be affected during the move. The relocation involves engineering and fabrication work to stabilize the sculpture, address interior water accumulation, and prepare it for transport and reinstallation.
The move is not a simple lift-and-load operation: the sculpture’s weight and handling requirements can change based on conditions inside the structure, requiring on-site assessment during removal.
Who owns the sculpture and who is paying
The sculpture is being donated by MAP Property Holdings, the owner of One U.S. Bank Plaza. Chesterfield is financing the repair and relocation work, with project costs estimated at approximately $75,000. The plan is to reinstall Synergism at the entrance to Chesterfield’s Central Park near the Chesterfield Amphitheater, returning the piece close to its original fabrication roots in west St. Louis County.
Why the relocation is occurring now
The move comes amid a broader repositioning of One U.S. Bank Plaza, a 36-story downtown office building at 505 North Seventh Street. The building has been undergoing a significant modernization program that includes upgrades to common areas and outdoor plaza spaces, part of an effort to refresh the tenant and visitor experience in a shifting office market.
What to watch next
Timeline: Chesterfield officials anticipate the sculpture’s installation in Central Park later in 2026, after repairs and refabrication work are completed.
Downtown site impacts: The removal raises questions about how the north plaza will be configured after the sculpture is gone as exterior improvements progress.
Regional public art footprint: The relocation adds to Chesterfield’s longstanding emphasis on outdoor sculpture placement across civic and commercial sites.
For downtown St. Louis, the departure of Synergism represents a tangible change to a familiar streetscape at Seventh and Washington—one tied to the era when corporate-commissioned public art helped define the look and identity of major office plazas.