Landscape Lighting in University City, Missouri

Bring your University City home to life after dark.

Why we love serving University City

University City is one of the most architecturally distinguished cities in our service area. Home to Washington University in St. Louis and the famous Delmar Loop entertainment district, U City — as locals call it — blends academic and cultural energy with one of the deepest concentrations of historic residential architecture in the St. Louis region. The city sits just 7 miles west of Downtown St. Louis, about a 15-minute drive, and has a walkable, tree-lined character that’s increasingly rare in the metro.

What makes University City extraordinary for landscape lighting is the named-architect housing stock. The Parkview Historic District (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986) was designed by Otto J. Boehmer and others, featuring Late 19th and Early 20th Century American architecture in Renaissance and Revival styles. The private place along Pershing, Waterman, and Kingsbury (south side, east of Big Bend) plus Melville and University Drive was laid out by Lucy Semple Ames in 1914 — famous residents included Tennessee Williams and Tom Dooley. Maryland Avenue and Westmoreland Drive, from Big Bend west to Jackson, form one of University City’s newest National Register Historic Districts.

Many University City homes were designed by named architects — the Maritz & Young firm has multiple homes in the city, including the property at 7308 Westmoreland Drive featuring Tudor and Colonial Revival influences. Other neighborhoods like the private subdivision laid out by Cyrus Crane Willmore in 1923 add to the architectural prestige. We approach these homes with the same architectural respect we’d bring to Clayton or Ladue — warm color temperatures, well-hidden fixtures, period-appropriate placements, and lighting that reveals the home’s design language rather than imposing on it.

Whether you’re in Parkview, Ames Place, Westmoreland Drive, near the Delmar Loop, or anywhere across University City’s distinguished residential streets, we’d love to walk your property and design something that fits.

Featured work

Our Past Projects

Services Available in University City

Every University City property is unique.

Here’s what we design and install across the area:

Home Accent Lighting

U City's architecturally rich housing stock — particularly the streets near Wash U — rewards detailed accent work focused on porches, dormers, and stone detailing.

Outdoor Pathway Lighting

Established front gardens and brick walks make pathway lighting a complement to existing hardscape rather than a primary element.

Patio Lighting

Compact backyards, often with mature plantings, become intimate outdoor rooms where patio lighting carries the evening atmosphere.

Deck Lighting

String Lighting

Bistro Lighting

Holiday Light Installation

Permanent Roofline Lighting

Outdoor Audio

Commercial Landscape Lighting

Local Considerations:

University City projects often involve historic and architecturally significant homes where lighting design must respect original character — heavy-handed installations look out of place quickly. The Delmar Loop commercial district drives a steady stream of commercial lighting work for storefronts, restaurants, and mixed-use buildings. Project scope tends to be smaller per home, with higher design detail.

Our approach

Designed for University City

01 Designing for U City's named-architect heritage

University City has one of the deepest concentrations of architect-designed homes in the region — Maritz & Young, Otto J. Boehmer, and others. Our role isn't to overlay modern lighting on these designs but to use light to reveal what's already there. Warm 2700K color temperatures, low-profile fixtures, restrained beam angles.

02 Historic District compliance

Several U City neighborhoods are on the National Register of Historic Places (Parkview, Maryland/Westmoreland, and the private place at Pershing/Waterman). We design lighting appropriate for historic districts — fixture choices that respect the period, placement strategies that complement original architecture, and documentation when needed.

03 Walkable, tree-lined street character

U City is genuinely walkable with mature tree-lined streets. Your lighting is seen by neighbors strolling by, not just passing cars. We design glare-free lighting that looks intentional from sidewalk view, with warm tones and balanced placements that fit the city's pedestrian-friendly character.

04 Private place and gated community work

Several U City neighborhoods are private places with their own community standards. We're familiar with that design environment and provide documentation and design specs for community review when needed.

Why University City Homeowners Choose Us

Why U City homeowners hire us for their named-architect homes and historic district properties

We work confidently with named-architect homes

U City has one of the deepest concentrations of architect-designed homes in the region — Maritz & Young, Otto J. Boehmer, and others. We use light to reveal what's already there. Warm 2700K color temperatures, low-profile fixtures, restrained beam angles, period-appropriate placements.

We design within Parkview, Maryland/Westmoreland, and other historic districts

Several U City neighborhoods are on the National Register of Historic Places. We design lighting appropriate for each district — fixture choices that respect the period, placement strategies that complement original architecture, documentation when needed for review.

We design for walkable, tree-lined streetscape

U City is one of the most walkable suburbs in the metro. Your lighting is seen by neighbors strolling by, not just from passing cars. We design glare-free lighting with warm tones and balanced placements that fit pedestrian-level inspection.

We work within private place community standards

Several U City neighborhoods are private places with their own community standards — Ames Place, the private subdivision laid out by Cyrus Crane Willmore in 1923, and others. We're familiar with that design environment and provide documentation for review.

We scale precisely for smaller U City lots

Many U City neighborhoods have smaller lots and shallow set-backs. We use lower-output fixtures, careful aiming, and warm color temperatures that fit the home without spilling onto neighbors. Precision matters more on small lots, not less.

What our clients say

Pricing & discounts

University City Homes

Coordinating with neighbors? Get 10% off when 5 or more University City homes book installations together. Talk to your neighbors — small ask, real savings.

Minimum project value: $650 (covers anything from a single spotlight to a full design)

1-year service package included free with every installation (avg. value $400)

5% discount for military, first responders, and healthcare workers

Payment: 50% upon estimate approval, 50% only when the project is complete and you're fully satisfied

30-day buyback guarantee on stocked fixtures if you're not happy

Ready for your free University City estimate?

Fixed-fee proposal, no pressure, no surprises.

Our process

In University City

1 Consultation

Matt or a team designer comes to your University City home to walk the property

2 Custom Design

Built around your home's architecture and the way you use the space

3 Installation

Performed by our in-house team — never subcontractors

4 Demo & Tuning

A nighttime walk-through after install. We adjust every fixture until it's right

5 Aftercare

1-year free service package, lifetime fixture warranty, team that picks up the phone

University City FAQ

Common questions

Do you work in University City's historic districts?

Yes. We design lighting appropriate for the Parkview Historic District, the Maryland/Westmoreland district, and the various private places. We use period-appropriate fixtures and provide documentation when needed.

Can you work with named-architect homes (Maritz & Young, etc.)?

Absolutely — these are some of our favorite projects. The design discipline these homes were built with
deserves equal discipline in the lighting. We use warm color temperatures, subtle placements, and lighting
that reveals the home’s architectural language.

How long is the drive from your office to University City?

About 20-25 minutes from our Sunset Hills offices.

Can you light my front porch and Old Webster bistro patio in one project?

Yes. Matt or one of our designers will walk your property at no cost and provide a written proposal.

Can you handle smaller U City lots with shallow setbacks?

Yes. Smaller lots actually demand more precise design — lower-output fixtures, careful aiming, warm color temperatures. We have deep experience with inner-ring scale work.

Get in touch

Request your free quote

Tell us about your property and what you’d like to light up. We’ll reach out to schedule a complimentary on-site consultation.

Or call us directly at (314) 899-9997