The Community Arts and Media Project began in 2002 as a collaboration among seven grassroots organizations each of whom focuses on different aspects of art, media, education, or action. These seven organizations came together to solidify a commitment to our community by purchasing the historic 7,500 sq. ft. Randall Building located at Cherokee & Minnesota streets in South St. Louis City.

CAMP's roof is the most sustainable project in the renovation process. Starting with an leaking roof with 4 inches of old roofing material, CAMP is in the process of renovating the rooftop and 3rd floor spaces with the vision of a green rooftop and human friendly interior spaces. The roof is a rubber roof, painted silver to reflect the summer heat. Eight skylights bring warm natural light into the 3rd floor and will reduce lighting needs. The first use of its kind in St. Louis, we are installing a new soy-based insulation and will be replacing the old decaying wood windows with new double hung wood windows using the old vintage-1895 hardware. Finally to hold rooftop gardens, wind mills, and solar water heaters and panels, we will be reinforcing the roof joists along the southern third of the roof.

CAMP's renovation was completed as much as possible using found materials and using materials from demolition in one part of the building in construction in another. For example, the studs for framing the bathrooms on the first floor were all reused. The sinks were reused or found in alleys around St. Louis. One great resource CAMP has used is the Re-Store, a Habitat for Humanity store that accepts donated construction materials and sells them at a discount. CAMP obtained doors among many other items from the Re-Store. Further more, we purchased the coping tiles for the roof from a salvage yard and the beautiful tiles in the bathrooms and kitchen in the 2nd floor housing cooperatives all came from the Re-Store. An energy-efficient on-demand water heater supplies the hot water for the 1st floor bathrooms and kitchen sink. CAMP is also hosting several water-conservation toilets in the 1st floor bathrooms.

You can see more photos of ongoing rehab of the Randall Building here.