Downtown Houston’s latest office development crossed the leasing halfway mark with another headquarters tenant.
Third Coast Infrastructure leased 20,800 square feet at Norton Rose Fulbright Tower, Skanska USA Commercial Development’s 28-story spec project at 1550 Lamar Street. The Houston-based midstream operator will relocate its headquarters from Hess Tower next year. The lease pushes the building to 62 percent occupied, the Houston Business Journal reported.
The building’s namesake tenant, a law firm, occupies roughly a third of its 375,000 square feet. Boston Consulting Group and Hicks Johnson are also tenants. The latter moved into its 21,000-square-foot space last month after a $4.3 million build-out.
Third Coast said it was drawn by the tower’s tech infrastructure, floor-to-ceiling glass and high-end amenities, including landscaped terraces and a 9,600-square-foot amenity center on the 28th floor. Griff Brandy of Partners Real Estate represented Third Coast in the deal.
The lease shows momentum for a building that has worked to differentiate itself from Houston’s glut of office supply. Designed by Copenhagen-based Bjarke Ingels Group with a side-core structure that maximizes natural light, the tower overlooks Discovery Green and recently landed Tenfold Coffee on the ground floor. Chef Hugo Ortega also plans to debut a concept, Zaranda, in the building this year.
It’s the first new high-rise office tower downtown since Hines’ Texas Tower opened in 2021. Skanska touted the project as Houston’s first LEED Platinum, WELL Platinum and WiredScore Platinum pre-certified tower, also targeting Fitwel certification.
The headquarters move by Third Coast is a 13-year commitment to a building still carving out its place in a downtown office market defined by high vacancy and landlord giveaways.
If momentum holds, Norton Rose Fulbright Tower could help reset leasing comps downtown — though much of the submarket is stuck with empty space.
— Eric Weilbacher
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