Shape Corporation: A Global Tier 1 Supplier Lands at SouthPoint Huntsville With Room to Grow
Shape Corporation, a Tier 1 automotive and industrial supplier with 14 locations on three continents, leased 173,888 square feet of a Hollingsworth building at SouthPoint Business Park near Huntsville, Alabama, with expansion to 206,288 square feet built into the deal. The manufacturing grade building was standing when Shape needed it, adjacent to I-65 and I-565.
At a glance
| Client | Shape Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Tier 1 supplier of metal, plastic, and hybrid components and systems for automotive and industrial markets |
| Scale | 14 locations on three continents, more than 2 million SF of manufacturing space worldwide |
| Location | SouthPoint Business Park, Huntsville, AL, adjacent to I-65 and I-565 |
| Building | 173,888 SF leased, expandable to 206,288 SF total |
| Specs | 30 to 40 foot clear heights, 60 by 60 foot columns, ESFR sprinklers, LED lighting |
| Corridor | Market access to Nashville and Louisville north, Birmingham and Montgomery south |
| Outcome | A global Tier 1 supplier leased a Hollingsworth spec building with expansion secured |
Who is Shape Corporation?
Shape Corporation is a Tier 1 supplier of metal, plastic, and hybrid components and systems for automotive and industrial customers, operating 14 locations on three continents.
With more than 2 million square feet of manufacturing space worldwide, Shape knows exactly what a manufacturing building has to be. A company at that scale does not compromise on clear heights, column spacing, sprinkler systems, or power. Its site decisions are benchmarked against its own global portfolio.
What did Shape Corporation need?
Shape needed manufacturing grade space in the North Alabama automotive corridor, with expansion capacity secured from day one.
The Southern automotive market runs on the I-65 spine, and Huntsville sits at its center. Shape's requirement came with the usual Tier 1 constraint: the space had to exist on the program's timeline, not on a construction schedule. It also had to leave room to grow, because Tier 1 footprints follow OEM program awards, and those arrive faster than buildings can be built.
How did The Hollingsworth Companies help?
Hollingsworth's standing building at SouthPoint Business Park gave Shape 173,888 square feet immediately, with expansion to 206,288 square feet built into the transaction.
The building was constructed to manufacturing standards before any tenant was identified: 30 to 40 foot clear heights, 60 by 60 foot column spacing, ESFR sprinklers, and LED lighting. That specification is why a company that operates 2 million square feet globally could walk in and put the building to work. The expansion capacity means Shape's next program award has a home before it is won.
What were the results?
Shape Corporation joined the tenant roster at SouthPoint Huntsville in 2023, taking a standing building with growth secured.
Shape joined Polaris, HDT, and other manufacturers at a park that has repeatedly proven the model: build manufacturing grade buildings ahead of demand on the I-65 and I-565 corridor, and the region's growth fills them. For automotive suppliers following OEM investment into the Southeast, the Shape building shows the fastest path from site decision to production support.
Frequently asked questions
What building did Shape Corporation lease at SouthPoint Huntsville?
A Hollingsworth building of which Shape leased 173,888 square feet with expansion to 206,288 square feet, featuring 30 to 40 foot clear heights, 60 by 60 foot columns, ESFR sprinklers, and LED lighting.
Why did Shape choose SouthPoint Business Park?
The park sits adjacent to I-65 and I-565 in the heart of the Southern automotive corridor, with manufacturing grade buildings standing when Shape's requirement arrived and expansion capacity built into the deal.
Can a tenant secure expansion space in a Hollingsworth building?
Yes. Shape's lease covers 173,888 square feet with expansion to 206,288 square feet secured, and Hollingsworth designs most of its buildings with expansion in mind.
What other manufacturers have located at SouthPoint Huntsville?
The park's tenants have included Polaris, HDT Expeditionary Systems, Shape Corporation, and other manufacturing and distribution users along the I-65 corridor.