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Saw this article in the chron this morning - http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/sarnoff/article/As-far-as-land-goes-large-tract-near-Medical-7252410.php Does anyone know where to find the marketing materials? I checked out the Cushman & Wakefield website but couldn't locate it. It's not quite as close to TMC3 as Nancy seems to think (I think she's looking at the wrong parking lot), but still relatively close

I've always wondered about Shell Oil Company's 540 acre master plan called Plaza del Oro. The proposed development started in the 1970s and went into the early 1980s before collapsing. Architect was Welton Becket, and his sibling MacDonald Becket. This would have been near the Texas Medical Center, TMC. There would have been high-rises (or skyscrapers) towards Highway 288 and the South Loop! The master plan is amazing.

https://riverdistrictnola.com/ Earlier renderings Current site plan Shell is moving from its longtime landmark tower, Hancock Whitney Center (One Shell Square), to this location in 2025. https://www.nola.com/news/business/shell-relocating-to-new-orleans-river-district/article_3702619e-5284-11ee-aebf-a3ae82f73371.html "When the mid-rise building is completed in early 2025, Shell’s 800 local employees will relocate there from the Hancock Whitney Center, the skyscraper that has housed Shell’s local operations since 1972 and until recently was known as One Shell Square. Though much of New Orleans' energy industry has decamped for Houston over the years, Shell, which has its North American headquarters there, has kept a sizeable presence in the Crescent City. Agreeing to a 12-year lease in a building constructed to its specifications should quiet worries about losing another major employer, and may help economic development officials as they try to lure other companies to the metro area."

One Shell Plaza: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/HAI/Images/Buildings/Downtown/1ShellPlaza-Jan08-002a.jpg Two Shell Plaza: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/HAI/Images/Buildings/Downtown/2ShellPlaza-Jan08-002a.jpg ---------------- HINES’ ONE SHELL PLAZA AND TWO SHELL PLAZA RECEIVE LEED® GOLD CERTIFICATION (HOUSTON) – The Houston office of Hines, the international real estate firm, announced today that One Shell Plaza and Two Shell Plaza have each received LEED® Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council under the Existing Buildings (EB) Rating System. Shell Plaza is a two million-square-foot, two-building Class A office property in downtown Houston that is owned, managed and was originally developed by Hines. Designed by renowned architect Bruce Graham with the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and completed in 1971, the 50-story One Shell Plaza was the first major high-rise project by Hines. It was developed as the North American headquarters for the Royal Dutch Shell Company when they relocated to Houston from New York City in 1971, and led to development of another 50-story sister project in New Orleans, One Shell Square. Clad in Roman travertine marble, it remains the tallest lightweight concrete structure in the world. The 26-story Two Shell Plaza consists of office, retail and parking. Both properties were acquired by the Hines U.S. Core Office Fund in 2004. The property was Hines’ first significant achievement in sustainability and marked the beginning of the firm’s long-time dominance in engineering excellence and energy efficiency. By raising the floor-to-floor height above market standards, Hines was able to install flexible, low-pressure ductwork that resulted in reduced operating expenses and occupancy costs, as well as greater operating efficiency for the buildings’ tenants. The property was also the first major high-rise project in Houston to install dual-pane windows, which contributed significantly to the high energy efficiency of the buildings. One and Two Shell Plaza are ENERGY STAR® qualified and together hold a total of 15 labels. With a weighted-average rating of 90, the buildings perform 43 percent better and save $1.63 in energy costs per square foot per year when compared to the national average building. This translates to estimated greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to removing approximately 3,350 passenger vehicles from the road—roughly one for every building occupant. As a testament to its design quality and operational excellence, Shell Plaza achieved LEED Gold certification with only modest upgrades, which included: the replacement and installation of low-flow restroom fixtures; the installation of energy efficient lighting with reduced mercury content; the installation of MERV-13 air filters to provide the cleanest indoor air; the use of green cleaning materials and equipment; and a comprehensive building recycling program, among other things. Hines worked closely with Kirksey’s EcoServices group, which played an instrumental role in managing the administrative aspects of the LEED certification process. Vice President of Strategy and Portfolio for Shell Real Estate Jerri Ballard said, “We are excited for Hines on the achievement of LEED Gold for One Shell and Two Shell Plaza. Shell has been pleased to support Hines on this journey in any way we could, and we are delighted that our companies share common goals of sustainability, energy efficiency and commitment to the U.S. Green Building Council standard.” Executive Vice President and CEO of Hines’ Southwest Region Mark Cover said, “The tenants in Shell Plaza are progressive and committed to providing their employees with the healthiest and most productive workplace possible. In turn, our property and engineering managers must constantly ensure that tenant space meets those rising expectations.” Shell Plaza is primarily leased to Shell, Baker Botts and Comerica Bank. Hines has secured LEED certifications for eight Houston properties, totaling approximately eight million square feet. Globally Hines is responsible for 145 projects, representing more than 89 million square feet that have been certified, pre-certified or registered under the various LEED rating systems. Hines was a founding member of the German Sustainable Building Council, and is active in the BRE Environmental Assessment Method program in the United Kingdom and the Haute Qualité Environnementale program in France. In 2009 Hines was recognized by the EPA, for the second time, with the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award; Hines has 138 buildings, representing approximately 77 million square feet that have earned the ENERGY STAR label. Twelve Hines development or redevelopment projects, representing more than six million square feet, have been designated as Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR. Hines is a privately owned real estate firm involved in real estate investment, development and property management worldwide. The firm’s historical and current portfolio of projects that are underway, completed, acquired and managed for third parties includes 1,111 properties representing more than 449 million square feet of office, residential, mixed-use, industrial, hotel, medical and sports facilities, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments. Hines has offices in more than 100 cities in 17 countries and controls assets valued at approximately $22.9 billion. Visit www.hines.com for more information. To learn more about sustainability at Hines, visit www.hines.com/sustainability.

Architect - https://aecom.com

Opening in 1971, One Shell Plaza

Does anybody (besides me) have any recollection of Shellwood? It was on the corner of 518 and 528 in Friendswood, and was bascially a park for Shell employees. They always had their company picnics there. It was very wooded and had a pool, tennis and basketball courts, picnic tables, etc.... I always knew where it was, but my Mom's friend told me there was a subdivision where it once was (I never knew that it was bounded by 528). The "lake" is still there, and is located right off of the creek (Clear Creek perhaps?). I was wondering if anybody could share some memories of it.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2014/01/27/downtown-landmark-getting-new-address-multimillion.html