When purchasing 16658 Old Chesterfield Rd., it wasn’t immediately obvious how severe the home’s deterioration truly was. Nearly every part of the structure showed long-term wear, but the rear portion was especially compromised due to decades-long termite infestation. A significant water issue beneath the crawlspace had also caused extensive damage to the basement. The second floor was ultimately deemed unsafe and uninhabitable by code.

Once light interior demolition began, it became clear that the home was in far worse condition than expected — to the extent that full demolition seemed like the most practical option.

Despite this, the historic significance of the property — the original home of Edward Burkhardt — prompted the Hennessy family to seek a feasibility study from Lauren Strutman Architects. Lauren was the ideal choice, having completed her own historical renovation just a few doors down.

Learn more about the origins of the City of Chesterfield and the Burkhardt family.

After multiple presentations to the City of Chesterfield and the Historical Board, we began developing architectural designs for a renovation and rebuild of the original structure. As anyone who has built or renovated a property knows, this planning phase alone can take months — sometimes up to a year — before permits can even be issued.

The first design included a second-floor addition and an expanded rear section to create office space for professional tenants. While the plans were impressive, the cost far exceeded expectations and did not align with the long-term financial vision for the property. At that point, demolition and leaving the lot vacant seemed increasingly likely.

Renovation and restoration were ultimately performed by JM Hennessy Contractors, with significant work from Robert Freeman and numerous specialty subcontractors. The full project took nearly three years and required approvals from the City of Chesterfield, St. Louis County, and Monarch Fire Protection. The property is insured by State Farm.

Under the direction of Jim Hennessy (cousin of owner Jim Hennessy), the team managed all aspects of demolition, salvage of historical materials, and reconstruction. Remarkably, many of the original structural elements — including walls, ceilings, and large portions of the flooring — were preserved. Much of this carpentry dates back more than 130 years.

Bringing the structure up to modern building codes required extensive work and, in many ways, rebuilding from the inside out. While it would have been far easier to start over, Jim and Marci Hennessy — along with architect Lauren Strutman — were committed to preserving the character and history of the original home.

Initially, the team pursued the earlier office-expansion concept, but the required commercial rezoning and escalating costs made it impractical. The question arose:
Should we preserve this building at all costs, or is demolition the responsible choice?

After much consideration, inspiration struck: transform the property into a music studio.

Jim, an active guitar player, had long outgrown the family basement, which was overflowing with instruments and equipment. He also thought about musicians like his brother-in-law, Howard — a lifelong professional bass player — and others who, now in their 70s, needed a daytime space to play, jam, and rehearse without the late-night bar scene.

From this came the vision for Studio 58 — a dedicated space where:

• Senior musicians can gather, rehearse, and play at full volume
• Friends and family can watch them practice
• Bands can refine their sound, arrangements, and performance sets
• Noise is never an issue

At the same time, Jim recognized the need for young musicians to have a place to grow. With several music lesson studios nearby, the area lacked a venue where youth bands could practice, collaborate, and perform outside of their homes. Jim believes deeply that art and music are essential to youth development — just as important as sports — and should be nurtured wherever possible.

To elevate the concept, Jim turned to longtime friend Billy Engle, a lifelong musician whose career began in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1960s and later flourished in Los Angeles. Billy has played in numerous well-known bands, owns EarStudios, and has produced hundreds of CDs for artists across the region. He also manages a sound company supporting corporate events.

Billy became the architect of sound for Studio 58 — designing the layout, collaborating with electricians, and ensuring every piece of equipment, from the stage to the mixing board, was optimized for professional-quality performance and recording.

Although no full professional recordings have been produced at Studio 58 yet, that is about to change. The studio looks forward to supporting:

• Lifelong musicians eager to finally record their work
• Young artists needing high-quality demos to share with the world

Studio58 was built to give both groups a space where creativity, community, and musical history can thrive.

The name Studio 58 is rooted in both location and personal significance. The studio sits at 16658 Old Chesterfield Road, right next door to our main office at 16660. Over time, we naturally began referring to the two buildings simply as “58” and “60.”

The number also carries personal meaning: Jim was born in 1958, adding another layer of connection to the space.

We explored several naming options, especially since many well-known studios and creative spaces use numbers — much like the iconic Studio 54 in NYC. And yes, if you Google Studio 58, you’ll find others using the same name. But for us, the meaning is close to home, rooted in our history, our address, and the vision behind the studio.