Shell to possibly build new campus north of The Woodlands/near Camp Strake? (Houston: real estate, lease)

[TexasTallest]

I hope this isn't true, but I figured I'd start a thread here since a few people over on haif seem to think it's happening. What does everyone think about this and more importantly, has anyone heard anything about this?
It doesn't make sense to me because Shell just expanded their woodbranch/EC campus, and have a lease signed in downtown in shell one and two through 2025, but maybe it's a new division of Shell or they are consolidating some of the other workers from around the US here in Houston, while keeping the other two Houston hubs?

[GTRdad]

Originally Posted by TexasTallest

I hope this isn't true, but I figured I'd start a thread here since a few people over on haif seem to think it's happening. What does everyone think about this and more importantly, has anyone heard anything about this?
It doesn't make sense to me because Shell just expanded their woodbranch/EC campus, and have a lease signed in downtown in shell one and two through 2025, but maybe it's a new division of Shell or they are consolidating some of the other workers from around the US here in Houston, while keeping the other two Houston hubs?

dont they have another technology center/campus on westpark? maybe theyre relocating

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Shell did build out in West Houston, it would not make much sense, unless they plan to vacate downtown 100%. They still have people at the OST location as well, maybe that makes up the rest. But to build something on the scale that Exxon is, it would mean a consolidation of all of the Houston offices.

It would not bode well for the City of Houston. Perhaps this is a wakeup call for the city that too many regulations are causing business to open outside the city limits. It takes almost 3 times as long to open a business in the city limits as compared to one on the same road, just a block over the city limit due to the revenue generating regulations the city has. Regulations are good, but they do have unintended consequences.

[gwarnecke]

I doubt this is true (and sure hope it isn't). Most Shell peeps in Houston (other than those who work at the refineries) live on the west side of town, a huge corporate move up north would mean a disruptive and unpopular transition. Exxon's doing it, but at least their new campus will be served by the Grand Parkway, Hardy toll road, etc. and will be right next to the airport. Even as a reverse commute, Houston to Conroe would be a terrible drive. Katy to Conroe would be even worse.

Shell may be looking to eventually vacate downtown, but if they do this I'd see them consolidating on the west side of Houston, rather than wayy up north. For the Woodcreek expansion at I-10 and Dairy Ashford, they're moving out of older leased buildings onsite and into the new, owned ones that are under construction just to the east. The older buildings could be torn down and redeveloped as high-density (read: cubicle-farm) high-rises that could probably accommodate all of the downtown staff with room to grow.

The sprawling Westhollow campus on Hwy 6 is lower-density and could accommodate a lot more staff with a few 5-10 story towers.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

The old buildings were odd, extremely inefficient, bulky and weird layouts, though probably chic at the time they were built. I used to work there for many years, there was just a lot of wasted space there.

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Camp Strake was purchased recently, not by Shell.

//www.city-data.com/forum/houst...-possibly.html

[GTRdad]

If that happens, Pearland would probably die

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Originally Posted by GTRdad

If that happens, Pearland would probably die

Yeah but the traffic on 288 would be sweet for a while.

[TexasTallest]

Why would Pearland die? Many people in Pearland work in the medical center...
As for camp strake already being purchased, that developer probably has plans for some office space/an office park on the site, which could be anchored or completely filled by Shell. No one ever mentioned how large the site would be (I doubt it would be on the same scale as Exxon), or that it was for sure at camp strake. Just in the area

[EasilyAmused]

Shell isn't going to move up there. This is some rumor created most likely created by Woodlands Real Estate Agents.