cocorobert

Academy is building a 4 floor, tilt wall building at their corporate HQ on Mason Rd. just N. of I-10.

This will probably be their new HQ building but I have no clue about the sq. ft. and if they will build a parking garage or not.

Why I am posting this is because of how close the fourth floor of this building is to the KVA Power lines that are part of the Texas electrical grid that connect regions and generating plants. These lines are the largest transmission lines in Texas and they are the tallest towers you will see around the state with the exception of towers that carry the lines over ship channels, rail yards or large freeways.

The reason for the height of these towers is because of the amount of electricity involved. Historically farmers in Kansas, Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle, etc. used to put up pools with copper wire between them and collect electricity from the lines without touching them. This collection of slippage is illegal and power generation companies would have planes following the towers looking for such activity. Of course these farmers were quickly stopped and I have not heard or known of such activity continuing today.

Does anyone know the SAFE distance a building can be built to these huge towers/lines?

If one wants a unique photo they can get one here. Of course the site is fenced in but while standing on the grass between the fence and Mason rd. I guestimate way less than 100' between the outer lines and the building. 

That was approximately 30 year ago when the realtor told us that story. She was visibly upset and I find it hard to believe it was fabricated.  I also heard the Friendswood Development story. Many corporate decisions have several options before a path is chosen.

Exxon like Fluor and other Dallas based corporations enjoy the demographics on Frisco, Allen, Grapevine, Carrollton, Irving, etc. offer for their CEO's, executive staff, IT and accounting, etc..  While keeping their bulk of employees (engineers, production, refining, exploration, R&D, etc.) in Houston.

The Woodlands offers a competitive demographic environment to the above cities and attracts support companies like CB&I and smaller companies corporate HQ's like Anadarko and Southern Gas.

Another funny story told to me from a boss whose father was a VP for a Dallas based Oil Company.

A large global oil company was based in Los Angles when the CEO retired and replaced by a CEO who lived in Dallas. The new CEO had a 49 story building built in Dallas and upon completion he worked out of the new building with everyone else moving to Dallas. A few years later the CEO left the company and started his own. The Global company then got a new CEO who was from California and they began construction on a new world HQ in the San Francisco area.  Upon completion they vacated the Dallas building and relocated everyone to the San Francisco area.

Moral of story, surprisingly more often than people imagine, corporate HQ's follow CEO's, especially if the space needed is within reason. So, do you really believe that Chevron will leave San Ramon?

If a new CEO is installed and he lives or is from Houston, maybe. If not, no.

I have been reading this site for years and have decided to join so I could share a story with you.

Many, many years ago I was at a local play in Katy when a realtor told us how frustrated she was at Exxon. She then told us how she had taken several top level executive wives all over Houston to show them the best neighborhoods. At this time the Woodlands was in its infancy and Kingwood, Clearlake, Memorial and of course River Oaks was the in locations. (Cinco Ranch and most of Sugarland was rice farms)The wives of Exxon were checking out relocation sites from a family (VIP) viewpoint. They were checking out cities across the U.S.. Exxon was still HQ in the NE.

What upset the realtor so much was after taking them everywhere, one of the wives asked

"is this it?"

Another says before the realtor can answer. "This must be the armpit of Texas".

So, they moved the HQ to Irving?

Why?

Security, convenience and culture. Exxon has a world class security department and anyone who has seen the corporate facilities at Irving with vouch for that. Exxon also seeks out secure (at best as possible) communities for its highest level employees.

Just drive through the Woodlands and the Irving, Grapevine, etc. area and you will see similar cultural areas. The drive from Houston airports to DT are neither scenic nor highly safe (from a corporate security viewpoint.)

When they are fully relocated in the Woodlands they can leave Irving to the private or corporate airport (most probably do not use DFW), arrive at Houston Intercontinental and take a very short drive N. to the new facilities.

Thus, improved perceived and real security, convenience and neighborhoods/demographics that meet their goals.

Oh, and they also are close to that all important International Airports. Or in case of the Exxon Wives, just minutes from Vail, Paris, N.Y. City, etc.