The Workhouse, located at 7600 Hall Street, St. Louis MO 63147, was primarily constructed in 1966. A newer wing, known as the annex or pods, opened in 1997. The size of the multi-building complex is approximately 142,000 square feet.

The site presents opportunities as it occupies 30 acres of municipally owned land, east of Hall Street in the North Riverfront Neighborhood. It also presents challenges as the property is in an industrial area with relatively poor residential neighborhood connectivity or access for residents.

Aerial shot of the Workhouse, also known as the Medium Security Institution. Photo depicts several layers of fence in the foreground, with a large institutional building with a dark roof in the middle, and smaller, zig zag buildings behind.
Plan of MSI with call out arrows pointing to "Entry & Visitation", "Common Space", "Old Jail", "Yard", and "Pods".
  • Image showing exterior of MSI, including parking, two layers of fencing, and watchtower.

    Two Layers of Fencing and Watchtower

  • Image showing lobby waiting area in MSI with rows of chairs, vases of fake red flowers, and a blue wall next to windows.

    Lobby Waiting Area

  • Image of front desk at MSI showing a plastic dividing wall.

    Front Desk

  • Image of control room at MSI, showing interior window facing out to exterior doors.

    Control Room

  • Image of visitation booths at MSI, showing narrow cubbies with fixed stools and desks.

    Visitation Booths

  • Image showing a secured border in MSI, with a red, cage-style gate open in a white wall.

    Secured Border

  • Image of the dorms in the Old Jail at MSI, showing a large empty room with bunk beds on one side of the room.

    Dorms (Old Jail)

  • Image of the day room in the Old Jail at MSI, showing fixed tables with seats surrounded by a fenced-in wall.

    Day Room (Old Jail)

  • Image showing open bathrooms in the Old Jail. In the background, open shower stalls are visible. In the middle there are sinks and a water fountain. A person stands in the middle of the image.

    Open Bathrooms (Old Jail)

  • Image of a common area in the Pods. Large blue plastic seating with rounded edges is scattered around the room, with a few tables. Along the second floor is a balcony railing. Several people sit or stand in the middle.

    Common Area (Pods)

  • Image showing the interior of a room in the Pods. Inside the door is visible two bunks and part of a table.

    Room (Pods)

  • Image showing additional detail in the interior of a room in the Pods. Visible to the left is a combined toilet/sink. In the center is a desk with a swinging out stool, and to the right are two bunks.

    Room Interior (Pods)

  • Image showing a hallway in maximum security with windows on one side, a fixed picnic table in the middle, and doors with grates on the right side. Several people stand in the hallway.

    Max Security Cells

  • Image shows a cafeteria with several round tables with attached stools. A bank of windows is on the far wall, and on the right wall is a mural that says "Cooking with MSI" and depicts a chef in a kitchen.

    Cafeteria

  • Image shows a commercial kitchen, including cooking tables, a hood, and several liquid containers. Several people are standing in the kitchen.

    Commercial Kitchen

  • Image shows a large gym with markings on the floor and a mural on the fall wall. A person walks across the gym floor.

    Gymnasium

  • Image showing the program room at MSI. Along the walls are several black and white murals depicting people. A small stage is against the far wall and benches are throughout the room. Several people stand in the room.

    Program Room

  • Image shows the laundry at MSI. Several large machines are visible, as are tables. Several people stand in the room taking pictures.

    Laundry

  • Image showing the workshop at MSI. There are tools, rolling carts, trash cans, ladders, and boxes scattered in the room. Several people stand in the room.

    Workshop

  • Image shows the music room at MSI. There is a sink along the wall, and several small paintings on the wall. There is a cart with drum pieces and other musical equipment.

    Music Room

  • Image showing the loading area at MSI. There are many pieces of furniture and equipment such as a small snow plow.

    Loading

  • Image showing the legal & social worker rooms at MSI. Doors are open off of a hallway and several people walk down the hallway.

    Legal & Social Worker Rooms

  • Image showing a classroom at MSI, with several tables in the middle of the room. A few people walk around the room.

    Classroom

A Path to Reenvisioning

"Since 2016, I have called for the closure of the Workhouse due to inhumane conditions, including broken plumbing, inadequate medical care, moldy food and contaminated water; not to mention a toxic culture of abuse, retaliation and neglect among correctional staff. The injustice caused by these dehumanizing conditions are compounded by the fact that most city detainees have not been convicted of any crime, with an average length of stay running longer than 300 days."

"This permanent reduction in our city’s capacity to incarcerate people whose challenges are better met with support and services is not mere reform; it is a transformation of our city’s approach to public safety. It will require courage, creativity, and a lot of hard work. I am committed to that work."

-Mayor Tishaura Jones

Image showing Mayor Tishaura Jones standing at a group of microphones in front of a sign reading "Security Institution. City of St. Louis". To her right is Representative Cori Bush, wearing a mask.

2019: Comptroller Green responds to the Close the Workhouse campaign with a statement in support of closing the facility. "MSI is an obsolescent facility and closing it is both fiscally and morally responsible."

2020: The St. Louis Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to pass an ordinance which authorized a report to describe the path to closing the Workhouse.  

In addition, the ordinance requires the Department of Health to develop criteria for hiring social workers to be assigned to detainees with mental health issues and their families.

2021: Mayor Tishaura Jones, closes The Workhouse and detainees are moved to the downtown City Justice Center.

Incarcerated individuals were still being rotated back through the Workhouse as repairs were being made to the City Justice Center. The facility has remained empty of detainees since June 2022.

 

Learn more about the Workhouse and other efforts across the country

Image showing Mayor Tishaura Jones and Representative Cori Bush standing in the MSI, looking at a bank of cells.

St. Louis Post Dispatch: Detainees moved out of the Workhouse as St. Louis jail closes (2021)

Image showing the cafeteria at the Workhouse.

St. Louis American: Tour of Workhouse (2021)

Image shows a brick building with a series of columns and repeating roofs.

The Sentencing Project: Repurposing Correctional Facilities to Strengthen Communities (2022)

Image showing a large brick building with a playground in front. Several people are using the playground.

NPR: The Quiet Trend of Reimagining and Reusing Prisons and Jails (2022)

Image showing Mayor Tishaura Jones standing at a bank of microphones in front of MSI.

St. Louis Public Radio: St. Louis To Close Workhouse This Week But Will House Temporary Detainees There (2021)

Two people stand in front of a building with large columns holding up a yellow and black banner that reads "Close the Workhouse" with an image of two hands breaking a chain.

Close The Workhouse Campaign

Aerial image depicting the Medium Security Institution from above.

St. Louis Post Dispatch: St. Louis Medium Security Jail, also known as Workhouse, affected by broken water pipe (2023)

Inez Bordeaux stands at a podium with several microphones holding a report. Behind the podium are a number of people holding yellow and black signs that say "Close the Workhouse".

St. Louis American: St. Louis City Board of Aldermen vote to close The Workhouse (2020)