Re-Envisioning MSI: Memorial Idea Submission

Overview

The Medium Security Institution — also known as MSI and commonly referred to as the Workhouse — is located at 7600 Hall Street, 63147, in the City of St. Louis. The Workhouse was a municipal jail facility, one of two operated by the City of St. Louis Corrections Division. Under Mayor Tishaura O. Jones the Workhouse was emptied and detainees were moved to the CJC facility. The facility was being used for storing documents and some administrative functions until late Fall of 2022.

The legacy of the MSI facility cannot be ignored.

This site and its future hold significance for many, including those who themselves or their loved ones were previously incarcerated there, and other St. Louis residents who see potential for its use in building up community benefit. In 2023, the City of St. Louis invested time and funding into an engagement process to learn from the community about desired and appropriate post-incarceration uses for the former jail and the land surrounding it. One of the recommendations put forth by the Steering Committee and supported by community responses, included the creation of a memory marker.

Memorial Ideas

For many community members, this facility caused pain that cannot be forgiven. By submitting this form, you are sharing your ideas for what should be included in a memorial. This will help inform the contents of the Request for Proposals the City will release to build the memorial.

Starting September 18, 2024, we encourage anyone to submit a design or design concept to the City for consideration as the city constructs a memorialization.

Submissions are due by November 1, 2024. In December, the City will release an RFP to support the construction of an appropriate memory marker.

Examples of submissions could include the following:

• Written descriptions of an appropriate memorial
• Paintings or drawings of a potential design for a mural or statue
• Poetry written about the impact of the facility
• Photos