New + Found, the developer behind City Foundry STL, says it is ready to break ground on a five-story mass-timber office building that would add roughly 83,000 square feet of creative office space to Midtown. The project is being pitched as the district’s first mass-timber office and a sustainability-forward option aimed at coaxing workers back to in-person offices.
As reported by First Alert 4 (KMOV), New + Found co-founder Steve Smith said the building would use mass timber and described it as “the first mass timber office building in St. Louis.” He told the station the choice was driven by a desire to stand out in a crowded office market while lining up with sustainability goals.
What’s Planned
Broker and marketing materials identify the project as Two Foundry Way, a five-story, 83,000-square-foot Class A office building that will feature exposed timber ceilings and large, flexible floor plates. The site brochure from Cushman & Wakefield highlights the mass-timber structure, biophilic design and reduced carbon footprint as key leasing hooks.
Phase Two: Apartments And Leasing
The development’s second phase also brings a big residential piece. Marketing materials list about 270 apartment units, while a 2021 New + Found press release cited 272 units. Smith told First Alert 4 that roughly 220 of those apartments are already occupied, and he expects the building to be fully leased by the end of summer.
Why Mass Timber
Supporters say mass timber cuts embodied carbon compared with steel and concrete and creates warmer, more comfortable interiors that can help with recruiting and retention. A 2022 feature in St. Louis Magazine outlines both those touted sustainability perks and concerns from conservation groups about responsible sourcing and supply chains.
How City Foundry Fits In
City Foundry has grown into a busy mixed-use hub with a food hall, entertainment venues and creative office tenants that, developers say, help make weekday office demand more realistic. The City Foundry directory and project materials list nearly 20 food and entertainment vendors, including anchors such as Alamo Drafthouse and Puttshack, and project marketing leans heavily on that amenity mix as a draw for employers and employees, according to City Foundry STL.
Timeline And What To Watch
A New + Found press release from December 2021 originally said Phase Two construction would begin in January 2022 and wrap in early 2024, a schedule that did not fully materialize. The 83,000-square-foot office component is now branded as Two Foundry Way and appears on broker listings with leasing contacts, per the project’s CommercialCafe property page.
Developers and brokers pitching the project say the mass-timber office is aimed at tenants chasing sustainability credentials and amenity-rich locations. In the coming months, watch for permit filings, an official groundbreaking date and new leasing announcements from New + Found. If it all comes together, the mix of apartments, retail and a timber office would further cement City Foundry’s role in Midtown’s broader growth push.
