The Russell Burns Building: A Diamond in the Rough

Last night, we welcomed Allison and Tyler Burns, along with many friends and colleagues, to the Russell Burns Building. We stood in front of 233,000 square feet of world-class space, home to more than 1,000 of the best and brightest. But this building was not always like this. It was a diamond in the rough.

We didn’t go out and build something brand new on a pristine piece of land. We came back to a structure we knew intimately, a building Clayco had actually built years ago. It sat there as an old call center with massive potential, just waiting to be unlocked. We looked at it and saw something different. We saw exactly what it could become. So we rolled up our sleeves, transformed it from the inside out, and made it one of the finest office environments anywhere in this country.

Just like so many things Russ touched, it was a diamond in the rough.

I’ve written before about what Russ meant to me as a partner, a mentor, and a close friend. I remember the day he first walked through the doors of Clayco. He was reluctant. Let’s be clear about that. We were rough and tough. Russ had already left the construction industry. He was writing a children’s gospel book. He was studying to become a minister. He made it clear he was not coming back to construction.

I convinced Russ to come to St. Louis to meet with me and talk about working with us three days a week for three months. Within six weeks, we were all working for Russ Burns, including me.

Back then, we were diamonds in the rough. We were building rough-and-tough projects. It was Russ who turned all of us into diamonds.

Today, as we dedicated this building in his honor, I know every person who crossed paths with Russ understands the impact he had on individuals and on this business. Every process, every discipline, and every cultural principle that shapes this organization has Russ Burns woven into it.

Two hundred thirty-three thousand square feet. More than 1,000 team members. Building Beyond These Walls.

Russ, you were a whole bunch of something. The very best kind of something.

This building will stand for generations, and every person who walks through these doors will carry a piece of you forward, whether they ever know your story or not.