Cool construction

The next project from Steve Gianfilippo, who created the Station House, is a five-story co-working space for entrepreneurs and remote workers in downtown St. Petersburg.

Billing itself as “St. Pete's ultimate creative hub,” the Station House Arcade will provide modern office, retail and co-working space while maintaining the historical charm of the Green-Richman Arcade, which dates back to 1925. When completed, the facility will have easels for artists, video game and virtual reality stations, turntables, ping-pong tables, a bar and kitchen, phone rooms, conference rooms, 10 office suites and ground-floor retail storefront space.

Some minor cosmetic changes will be made to the arcade's historic exterior, which was designed by George Feltham, a well-known St. Pete architect who favored the Mission Revival style. The arcade was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Gianfilippo's holding company, GF FH Arcade LLC, also owns the Station House. It acquired the arcade property for $1.2 million. Station House members will be able to use the arcade amenities without paying any extra fees or upgrading their membership.

• Project: Station House Arcade
• Builder: Gianco Cos.
• Designer/Architect: Gianco Cos.; Flynn Interiors
• Location: 689 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
• Start date: Sept. 20, 2016
• Completion date: Early 2018
• Construction Cost: $250,000
• Size: 7,296 square feet
• Notable tenants: Urban Creamery, ClearpH Design
• Challenges: “It's an historic building, so there's a lot we can't do without updating other things,” says Gianco Companies Vice President Michael McAleenan. “Bringing things up to code in these old historic buildings is always a challenge.”