Lease Signed for Gateway South Housing Manufacturing Facility

Date Posted: November 2, 2026

Posted In: Featured, Projects,

Housing manufacturer joins Schaeffer Electric and Construction Forum as long-planned construction innovation district takes shape.

by Tom Finan, Executive Director, Construction Forum

Another piece of the Gateway South redevelopment has fallen into place.

Fornidos Home Systems Inc. has signed a lease for a 55,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at Gateway South, an approximately 100-acre redevelopment along the St. Louis riverfront south of the Gateway Arch.

The agreement advances Good Developments Group’s plans to transform the former industrial district into a hub for construction innovation, manufacturing, and workforce development.

ARCO Named D-B Contractor

Construction of the facility at 1120 S. Second St. is expected to begin in early 2027, with completion targeted for the fourth quarter. ARCO is the design-build contractor.

Fornidos plans to begin temporary manufacturing operations while its permanent facility is under construction.

A St. Louis Connection

Dallas-based Fornidos manufactures housing panels that can incorporate framing, insulation, windows, doors and interior finishes before delivery to construction sites. The system is designed to shorten construction schedules and make housing production more efficient.

CEO Mark Lee has strong St. Louis industry ties. He previously held senior leadership positions at Chesterfield-based MiTek, a Berkshire Hathaway company specializing in engineered building components and construction technology. His roles included president of Residential North America and senior vice president of New Market Growth and Global Homebuilding Solutions.

“We share Good Developments Group’s vision of innovating products and methods to increase the supply of safe, quality, sustainable and affordable homes for the masses. St. Louis is a natural base for the markets we plan to serve,” Lee said.

Fornidos is already pursuing several housing projects in the St. Louis region, with announcements expected soon.

Four Years in the Making

First announced in August 2022 as a proposed $1.2 billion redevelopment of Chouteau’s Landing and the adjoining riverfront property, Gateway South was envisioned as a center for construction innovation and advanced manufacturing. The original plan included modular building component production, housing, commercial space, and recreational uses.

Construction Forum helped introduce the project to the regional building industry at a September 2024 on-site event.

The Fornidos lease joins commitments from Schaeffer Electric and Construction Forum as the development’s first phase advances.

Schaeffer Electric plans to renovate an existing warehouse and build new office space. Construction Forum plans to relocate its offices to the district, bringing its industry collaboration and workforce development activities to the site.

A childcare and early education center is also planned; the operator will be announced.

City Welcomes Investment

The St. Louis Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority recently approved up to $30 million in industrial revenue bonds for the Fornidos and Schaeffer Electric projects, along with associated tax incentives.

“Fornidos represents exactly the type of construction and manufacturing innovation that Gateway South was created to support,” said Greg Gleicher, founder and CEO of Good Developments Group. “This lease demonstrates the momentum behind Phase 1 and establishes a long-term home for Fornidos at Gateway South.”

Mayor Cara Spencer welcomed the investment.

“I’m thrilled to have Fornidos joining the Gateway South development and am proud they’ve chosen the City of St. Louis for this investment. Not only will they be a valued member of our business community, but I can’t wait to see how they contribute to scalable residential developments in our City,” Spencer said.