ChannelTwoNews Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 While there had been rumblings of such a project in other threads, I figured it was time to start a separate one since Bisnow is reporting something a bit more specific. We did some good old fashioned digging yesterday and found a gem—MetroNational is gearing up its latest office development in Memorial City. Tenants of the Bally Fitness Shopping Center at 9801 Katy Freeway (built in '01, 49k SF) temporarily shut down on Nov. 1 in preparation. MetroNational declined to comment on its plans, but Le Peep confirmed for us that the center will be demolished and an office tower will be constructed on the 3.4-acre site. It was informed there will be a 14 to 16-month construction process, and then Le Peep will reopen as ground-floor retail in the tower. We've learned the tailor in the center has also snagged a spot in the new project. Not returning is former anchor Bally's: The local stores were purchased by Blast Fitness, which closed this location—among others around town—this February. (What are they doing with old treadmills? We've got some new clothes but nowhere to hang them.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skooljunkie Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Ground floor retail. This thread is going to be super boring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgriff Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Ground floor retail. This thread is going to be super boring. Don't worry. The building is sure to be ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Don't worry. The building is sure to be ugly.It's OK. We'll continue to take the jobs, the economic development and the ugly buildings that come with them out here on the west side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Don't worry. The building is sure to be ugly.Probably true... But at least it will go with the other buildings and add that stellar blue ambiance. I mean, we can't expect anything that it will be some kind of marvel. This is a complex of suburban offices around a mall. It's far too late to turn Memorial City into the Woodlands' waterway. The same could be said for Uptown, but at least there are a few signatures there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 It's OK. We'll continue to take the jobs, the economic development and the ugly buildings that come with them out here on the west side.Ugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgriff Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 It's OK. We'll continue to take the jobs, the economic development and the ugly buildings that come with them out here on the west side.I actually live right behind Memorial city. This was a joke. I'm sure there will still be plenty for people to complain about even if there is ground floor retail. I'm surprised we didn't get the standard... "This should have been built in midtown or downtown already." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brijonmang Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I'm surprised we didn't get the standard... "This should have been built in midtown or downtown already." Well, the main proponent of that train of thought did weigh in right above you. As usual, it was very thoughtful and has contributed immensely to the discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpringShadows Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 MetroNational has immediate plans to tear down this 2-story 12-year-old former Bally Fitness Shopping Center on a 3.44-acre site facing the I-10 feeder at the northeast corner of the Memorial City Mall — and replace it with some sort of new office tower, Real Estate Bisnow‘s Catie Dixon reports. The health club (along with all 9 other Houston Bally’s locations) was taken over by Blast Fitness last year — and shut down entirely this spring. As of the end of last week, all remaining tenants in the building at 9801 Katy Fwy. have closed up shop as well. MetroNational (as usual) wouldn’t comment on plans for the site half a mile east of its headquarters, but Dixon gets the scoop from the stores themselves: Le Peep plans to be gone from the site only for 14 to 16 months, however; it’s been promised a ground-floor retail space in the new building. T.N. Tailor Alterations also says it has a spot in the new development; no word on the Starbucks. [Real Estate Bisnow] Photo of Bally Total Fitness at 9801 Katy Fwy.: MetroNational Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motis B Totis Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 They demolished half of the shopping center today. Still waiting on renderings... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasGeneral Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Update on this...the entire Bally's complex has been completely demo'ed and there is a sign out front with a picture of two glass towers that says "630,000 square feet Class A office Coming Soon." I don't have a picture but the towers are all glass and look different (in my opinion, much better) than the other three office buildings across the street. One looks to be in the 10-15 floor range and the other maybe up to 20 floors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 By Elina999 on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscats35 Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Wow! another skyline in the making. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 /\/\EH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Allen Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I am convinced that I 10 from Katy to Memorial City is going resemble the opening scenes in the movie "Brazil", where wall to wall high rises and LED multi storied advertisements will line the freeway. I give it less than a decade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Thar isn't a good thing, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChannelTwoNews Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 Some shots from today. The site, including the former "Texas Heritage Park" pocket park is completely cleared. The park apparently will make a return when the buildings are complete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Air Liquide to move U.S HQ to Memorial City, from Galleria area: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Air-Liquide-to-move-U-S-headquarters-to-Memorial-5185627.php "Industrial gas manufacturer Air Liquide today announced plans to move its U.S. headquarters from the Galleria area to Memorial City, where it will occupy space in two buildings to support its growing work force in an amenity-rich part of Houston. The new development, to be called Air Liquide Center, will include a 20-story tower with 452,000 square feet and a smaller, adjacent building with 145,000 square feet. They will be located at 9811 and 9807 Katy Freeway, just south of Interstate 10 between Gessner and Bunker Hill. The company, part of a global corporation based in Paris, has some 1,500 employees in the greater Houston area. About 1,000 work in the corporate headquarters. Air Liquide's administrative and industrial operations will occupy the upper six floors of the 20-story tower in addition to the first-floor lobby and office space. Its engineering and construction operations will occupy two floors of the second building, as well as having a lobby presence. In total, the company will lease about 222,000 square feet of space. It has options to expand in the future. The company said its lease in at 2700 Post Oak Blvd. in the Galleria area is expiring soon and it needed room to grow and wanted a more modern space. The new offices will be "engaging and collaborative," with places for formal and informal meetings, the company said. "We've been looking for new, expanded space giving us a world-class work environment to accommodate our growing work force," said Michael Graff, chairman and CEO of American Air Liquide Holdings Inc. and Air Liquide senior vice president for the Americas. Designed by Morris Architects and Gensler, the buildings will be completed by the end of 2015. Gensler will design the interiors in both buildings. They are being developed on a site that formerly housed a Bally health club, Starbucks and Le Peep restaurant, the latter two of which will move into the first floor of the shorter building when it opens, said Randy Nerren, executive vice president of MetroNational Corp., which is developing the buildings and owns much of the Memorial City area. Additional retailers will occupy the first-floor space as well." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky-guy Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Yay. More blue boxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchFan Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Yay. More blue boxes. I agree, not exciting. But ... still better than the embarrassingly weird stuff MetroNational was putting up before. Apparently, they decided ratchet things down a notch after locating the Justice League's secret superhero HQ on top of the MemorialHermann Tower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 beyond boring. to the point of looking fortress like. just saying... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motis B Totis Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Awesome! That's not boring at all. Awesome! That's not boring at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtsig Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 These are suburban office buildings. Many of you need to start lowering your expectations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 These are suburban office buildings. Many of you need to start lowering your expectations.Exactly. Look at all the suburban office buildings from the 80s. Rarely any of them have anything special about them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Air Liquide to move U.S HQ to Memorial City, from Galleria area: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Air-Liquide-to-move-U-S-headquarters-to-Memorial-5185627.php Clever use of glass to reflect the row of parking spaces below, a nod towards the dynamism of this area that drew them from the Galleria area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Oh geez guys and gals, it's an office next to a freeway, next to a mall! What do you expect? It's a cute little office project. In the future when other businesses besides Energy companies flock here, then we might see some major new buildings Downtown and in Uptown. Until then, we can thank our lucky stars Chevron is still Downtown, Shell (currently), Total, Dynegy, Hess, BG Group, Reliant, Centerpoint, and a few others. They are the exception, not the rule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpringShadows Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 http://www.us.airliquide.com/en/air-liquide-to-relocate-american-corporate-headquarters.html Air Liquide to relocate American corporate headquarters to Memorial City in Houston01/30/2014Air Liquide today announced plans to move its American corporate headquarters from the Houston Galleria area to the Air Liquide Center in Memorial City in Houston, scheduled to break ground this month. Houston is zone headquarters for Air Liquide’s U.S. and American operations and one of three global hubs for Air Liquide Group. The move will provide Air Liquide with expanded space and a world-class work environment to accommodate the company’s growing workforce and robust business plans. The Air Liquide Center will consist of a 20-story, 452,000 square-foot tower and an adjacent 145,000 square foot building, located at 9811 and 9807 Katy Freeway. Both Class A office buildings are LEED Silver pre-certified and will connect to a network of skywalks providing access to Memorial City Mall and other neighboring amenities within Memorial City. Air Liquide’s administrative and industrial operations will initially occupy the upper six floors of the 20-story tower in addition to the first floor lobby and office space, totaling 155,000 square feet, with options to expand floor space. Its Engineering & Construction operations will occupy two floors of the second building, totaling 67,000 square feet. Morris Architects is the architect of record for the Tower building. Gensler is the architect for the second building and will design Air Liquide’s interiors in both buildings. “This move marks an exciting new chapter in Air Liquide’s history as our business continues to rapidly grow and evolve,” said Michael Graff, Chairman & CEO, American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. and Air Liquide Senior Vice President for the Americas. “We are investing in our future, ensuring the right environment, space and resources to support our talented workforce and continue to enable the highest level of innovation and service for our customers.” “With the announcement of Air Liquide, four major publicly traded companies have made the decision to relocate to Memorial City in the last 24 months, filling 750,000 total square-feet of office space,” said Randy Nerren, Executive Vice President at MetroNational. “We are delighted that Air Liquide has joined the growing roster of international companies that realize all that Memorial City has to offer.” Doug Elliott and Kevin Kushner of CBRE represented Air Liquide in the transaction. Groundbreakings for both new buildings are slated for January 2014 with completion of the entire project projected for November 2015. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtsig Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 c'mon man, there's a 26-post thread about 15 threads down on the first page: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/29124-air-liquide-center-2-new-office-buildings-for-memorial-city/ you know this place doesn't slip on new like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 c'mon man, there's a 26-post thread about 15 threads down on the first page: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/29124-air-liquide-center-2-new-office-buildings-for-memorial-city/ you know this place doesn't slip on new like that. It's cool, topics merged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgriff Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 I'm sure Air Liquide would love to hear ideas on how to spend shareholder money on some artistic flair for their buildings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.