Stearns & Foster was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1846 by George S. Stearns and Seth Foster and was the first factory in the nation to produce cotton wadding. The company soon expanded into batting, mattresses, and related cotton products. Stearns & Foster relocated to Lockland along the Miami and Erie Canal in the late 1880’s, and steadily grew over the years to encompass one million square feet across 15 acres. At the Lockland factory’s peak in the 1970’s, Stearns & Foster employed more than 1,200 people who produced 200 mattress and spring sets daily under the Stearns & Foster and Sealy brands.

Design services are provided in collaboration with Pepper Construction as a design-build delivery method. This delivery method is an enhanced design-build model, using principles from design-assist and integrated project delivery methods, bringing Pepper’s select trade subcontractors on board during the design to help assist with developing design and construction solutions. As a historic structure, the design is consistent with historic preservation standards and requirements, and includes the award of $4.5 million in State and Federal historic tax credits. This building preservation supports the rich history of Greater Cincinnati and Lockland’s community revitalization efforts.

The overall site design includes exploring geothermal opportunities, parking layouts, visitor logistics, an outdoor plaza environment for Pepper employees, site logistics for trucks and equipment storage, and covered parking with solar. Project includes design for net zero energy, WELL® , and LEED® certifications. These design strategies focus on improved indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and reduced operating costs.