St. Louis, MO (May 12, 2026) — St. Louis will soon have the first ONE PRECISION ASSEMBLIES™ (OPA) homes west of the Mississippi River. Unico Inc., an innovative HVAC manufacturer based in St. Louis, is collaborating with building-material expert CertainTeed to construct two OPA homes this month in North City.

OPA, developed by CertainTeed, is an innovative panelized construction system using factory-built floor, wall, and roof assemblies to build high-performance homes. The offsite construction significantly accelerates timelines while improving build quality, consistency, and energy performance. What’s more, these OPA homes have been engineered in collaboration with Unico — a leader in high-efficiency HVAC systems — to combine the high-performance benefits of both systems into affordable, low-energy usage homes for local families.

As the United States faces a severe housing shortage of approximately 4.7 million units, offsite construction methods are gaining traction. This is vital to a market like St. Louis, where significant housing challenges persist around supply at attainable price points. Homes cost roughly 5.5 times the median household income, putting homeownership out of reach for many St. Louisans. The partnership between building-envelope innovator CertainTeed and HVAC expert Unico demonstrates how OPA can provide a solution, with high-quality, attainable housing.

“This St. Louis project reflects a shift from ‘build fast and cheap’ to ‘build smarter, perform better, and reduce long-term costs,’” explained Scott Intagliata, owner and Chief Marketing Officer of Unico, Inc. “With this collaboration, CertainTeed and Unico are demonstrating how a home-building partnership can deliver integrated systems that boost performance, increase efficiency, and improve long‑term affordability.”

The two OPA homes will be constructed on North Euclid Avenue in the Mark Twain neighborhood. OPA’s precision manufacturing makes it possible to build efficiently on tight urban lots, with fewer deliveries, less waste, shorter construction periods, and less disruption for neighbors and the surrounding community.

“St. Louis presents a unique opportunity to address housing supply through vacant-lot development,” said Dennis Michaud, Managing Director at CertainTeed. “This collaboration with Unico will produce real‑world results in the very near future: faster construction, more efficient use of land, and homes that are both attainable and high‑performing.”

With this St. Louis OPA pilot program, CertainTeed and Unico offer a replicable model for other markets — one that strengthens housing availability, accelerates build speed, and supports long‑term affordability across communities. This is particularly important as the “new construction premium” (how much more people pay for a new home than one that’s already been lived in) recently skyrocketed to 202.7 percent in St. Louis’ dense urban areas. 

Other benefits of the OPA system include:

Faster Timelines, Minimized Risk: According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, modular and panelized construction methods can deliver time savings of 30-50% compared to traditional construction approaches. Plus, by reducing job site complexity, OPA helps builders and developers mitigate cost overruns, labor shortages, and weather delays.
Superior Craftsmanship & Quality: Each floor, wall, and roof panel is precision-manufactured to meet local building codes and builder specifications, eliminating guesswork and variability.
Engineering for High Performance: OPA homes are engineered for superior energy efficiency and can be up to 50% more efficient than traditional construction. Airtight and moisture-managed assemblies prevent air leaks and water intrusion, improving structural integrity and indoor comfort.
Sustainability: Precision manufacturing minimizes material waste, while fewer deliveries to the jobsite help reduce transportation-related emissions, further boosting the home’s overall sustainability profile.

To access visual assets for the OPA homes, including renderings, please click here. Interior finishing will continue through early summer, with public open houses planned for mid-July. To arrange an interview with a Unico or CertainTeed spokesperson or to schedule a site visit, please contact Brooke Foster at brooke@wearenovella.com.

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 ¹United States Chamber of Commerce, "The State of Housing in America," updated March 3, 2026
²CapRateCity, "Cost of Living & Affordability: St. Louis, MO," updated 2026
³ Realtor.com, "New-Construction Insights: Urban New Builds Are Scarce and Expensive," May 2026 

About Unico Inc.

Unico, Inc. is the leader in Small-Duct High Velocity (SDHV) heating and cooling systems and other high-end HVAC systems. The company manufactures all of its products in St. Louis, Missouri, with over 125,000 square feet of modern manufacturing space. The company is well known for extensive use in older, architecturally unique homes and buildings as well as elite, high-end custom homes. The company is family owned and operated and is available throughout the United States and Canada, and in over 28 countries around the world.

About CertainTeed

With innovative building solutions made possible through its comprehensive offering of interior and exterior products, CertainTeed is transforming how the industry builds. As leaders in building science and sustainable construction, CertainTeed makes it easier than ever to create high-performance, energy-efficient places to live, work and play, so that together we can make the world a better home. 

A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest and oldest building products companies, CertainTeed has more than 6,900 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. www.certainteed.com 

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services adapted to the residential, non-residential and infrastructure markets. Its integrated and innovative solutions provide sustainability, performance and well-being for its customers. The Group is guided by its purpose, “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

• €46.5 billion in sales in 2025
• 162,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
• Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050

The post Innovative New Homes in St. Louis Demonstrate a Scalable Path to High-Quality, Attainable Housing  appeared first on The Unico System.

Unico has long been recognized for its expertise in designing and manufacturing high-performance solutions, particularly in HVAC and modular technologies. With a commitment to sustainability and user-centric design, Unico’s systems are trusted by customers worldwide. By recommending Shipshape.AI as its preferred monitoring solution, Unico ensures its customers gain access to real-time insights, predictive maintenance, and seamless system optimization—further extending the value and longevity of Unico’s offerings.

Shipshape.AI specializes in AI-powered monitoring and predictive analytics, transforming how systems are managed in homes and buildings. Their platform leverages machine learning to detect inefficiencies, anticipate maintenance needs, and optimize energy usage, delivering actionable insights directly to users. When integrated with The Unico System, Shipshape.AI’s technology provides a smarter, more responsive experience that empowers customers to stay ahead of potential issues while maximizing performance.

“We’re thrilled to recommend Shipshape.AI as our go-to monitoring solution,” said Scott Intagliata, Co-Owner and CMO at Unico, Inc.. “Their AI-driven platform perfectly complements our systems, giving our customers unparalleled visibility and control. This partnership reflects our commitment to delivering the best in innovation and reliability.”

“Being chosen as Unico’s recommended monitoring solution is a testament to the impact our technology can have,” added Alex Linn, CEO of Shipshape.AI. “We’re excited to work alongside Unico to redefine what’s possible in smart system management, ensuring their clients benefit from smarter, more efficient operations.”

Unico encourages its customers, industry stakeholders, and media outlets to explore the benefits of this partnership by visiting www.unicosystems.com or www.shipshape.ai. For more information, to request a demo, or to integrate Shipshape.AI with your Unico system, contact our teams at sales@unicosystems.com or info@shipshape.ai. 

About Unico Systems
The Unico System is a small-duct central heating and air conditioning system manufactured by Unico Inc. Ideal for custom and new home construction, older home retrofits and historic preservation, modular, and commercial applications, The Unico System takes less than one-third the space of a traditional HVAC system. Unico is an active member of the U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation.For over 30 years, Unico has delivered high-performance, user-centric products that prioritize efficiency and flexibility. Learn more at www.unicosystem.com.

About Shipshape.AI
Shipshape.AI, based in Austin, TX, is a leading provider of AI-driven monitoring and predictive analytics for home and building management. Their platform empowers users with real-time insights and automation to enhance system performance and reduce costs. Discover more at www.shipshape.ai.

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“We are beyond excited to start this relationship with Brent,” said Ashton Gavelek, Unico brand marketing manager. “His dedication to the principles of fine and historic building practices, overall expertise in the renovation of architecturally significant structures, and carryover of this philosophy into the construction of new, custom-designed homes makes him a perfect match for The Unico System.”

A graduate of Boston’s renowned North Bennet Street School, one of the nation’s oldest trade schools, Mr. Hull has built a reputation and extensive following as an expert in the numerous advantages of historic building practices. Mr. Hull also owns a successful restoration, construction, and millwork business based in Fort Worth, TX. His years of experience, encyclopedic knowledge of historic building practices – most especially millwork – and affable nature have made him a trusted voice in the homebuilding industry.

“I’m very particular about the products and companies I associate with,” notes Mr. Hull. “I became familiar with The Unico System as a viable HVAC solution through my years of work in the preservation of historic homes and building practices and in designing and constructing new custom homes.” Added Mr. Hull, “In many of our projects, Unico is the only choice for including energy-efficient indoor comfort without detracting from the structure’s original design elements or aesthetics.”

“Unico is the only choice for including energy-efficient indoor comfort without detracting from the structure’s original design elements or aesthetics.”

The partnership will feature Mr. Hull offering his insight and expertise when it comes to upgrading traditionally built houses and newly constructed homes built to historic standards with modern HVAC across his own and the manufacturer’s various media channels.

Read the full Press Release.

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