This project is the second major office building to be announced in the Energy Corridor in West Houston in one week.
The total project will be built on 12 acres south of Memorial Drive and west of Eldridge. The 350,000 square-foot Skanska building will be called West Memorial Place and will apparently have a strong “connection to nature” according to the developer. The original purchase included 21 acres however the developer recently sold 9 acres to Graco Partners for an apartment development.
Totally financed by Skanska, the project will include a 12-story building with great views outdoor, a multi-story car park, a fitness centre with lockers and showers, an on-site café with healthy dining options, a courtyard and extensive landscaping.
The Norwegian Oil & Gas company Petroleum Geo-services has already agreed to lease 122,000 square feet of the building for its offices.
Despite residents’ opposition, a pond has been removed by Skanska as it had no flood-control function. The new development will have a drainage and detention area on the Western edge of the property.
Skanska acquired the site in 2012 and the project is set to open in the first quarter of 2015.
Skanska is targeting a minimum of LEED Gold certification for the building which is expected to consume 25% less energy than most existing buildings. A demand-controlled ventilation and an energy recovery wheel are some of the mechanical systems contributing to the energy efficient and environmentally-friendly features of the project.
Also, light and air sensors, water-saving systems and floor-to-ceiling windows allowing daylight to flow into the offices will be part of the innovations making this building really energy efficient.
Sources: blog.chron.com and houstonchronicle.com
