Levit Green: Life Science Mixed-Use District By Hines

[Urbannizer]

https://medspaceusa.com/all-industry-news/texas-is-going-big-in-biopharma/
 

Quote

In July, Hines finalized a deal with 2ML Real Estate Interests to build a mixed-use life sciences and technology-based development called Levit Green, next to the Texas Medical Center. The company plans to break ground on the phase I building in the third quarter of 2021 and complete construction in late 2022.

 

“It’s not often that an organization can have the opportunity to develop 50 plus acres adjacent to the largest medical center on the planet. That opportunity came along, and we thought it was absolutely intuitive that you could marry up that type of opportunity next to something like the Texas Medical Center,” said John Mooz, a senior managing director, and market head of Houston/Austin/San Antonio at Hines.

 

For industry and real estate developers alike, the cost of building, and cost of living can often make the difference when deciding where to locate.

 

“In our trying to understand what the best end-users are for Levit Green, I do think they will be both organically from here, but also locating from either coast where among other things, it’s expensive to build relative to Houston,” Mooz said. “You have gross rates that top $100 psf, and Houston can be almost half of that. And when you’re looking at a company with early-stage funding, that can be a huge difference. So I would argue that Houston can attract top talent and top organizations with an incredibly affordable quality of life, and strong diverse, cultural offerings.
 

With the global oncology pharmaceutical market projected to be worth approximately $200 billion by 2023, Houston is primed to move to the top of any emerging life sciences cluster list. That’s a pretty strong trajectory in a place that spends a lot of time studying cancer. You combine it next to a medical center that has over 9,200 beds, and we have, by anyone’s count, somewhere in the order of 1100-1200 clinical trials going on right now.”

[H-Town Man]

2 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

https://medspaceusa.com/all-industry-news/texas-is-going-big-in-biopharma/
 

 

It will be interesting to see which breaks ground first, this or TMC3. I'm starting to think we'll get another redesign (and downgrade) before TMC3 moves forward.

 

[Highrise Tower]

Cherry has finished their work at this site.  Looks like it will sit for a year until Hines is ready to build.

 

 

 

 

[por favor gracias]

You can see the Texas Tower peeping out in the downtown pic, closing up that gap coming in from 288.

[Highrise Tower]

More renderings were released. 21

 

https://www.hines.com/properties/levit-green-houston

 

 

[houstontexasjack]

34 minutes ago, Highrise Tower said:

More renderings were released. 

 

https://www.hines.com/properties/levit-green-houston

 

 

That bicyclist in the bottom rendering looks uncomfortable.

[texan]

14 hours ago, Highrise Tower said:

More renderings were released. 

 

https://www.hines.com/properties/levit-green-houston

 

 

This is giving me Domain (in North Austin) vibes. Hopefully this is able to spur some ancillary develops like the Domain has, which started as one development and evolved into a total neighborhood redevelopment by many players.

[cspwal]

15 hours ago, houstontexasjack said:

That bicyclist in the bottom rendering looks uncomfortable.

His seat is adjusted too low, and the bike itself looks like it might be too small 

[hindesky]

On 11/23/2020 at 5:10 PM, houstontexasjack said:

That bicyclist in the bottom rendering looks uncomfortable.

Looks like he borrowed his 10 yr old's bike. I see riders like this all the time and I just have to believe they didn't buy at a real bike shop but at a big box retailer.

[Highrise Tower]

Soil testing today.

[Highrise Tower]

Recent permit for 3131 Holcombe Blvd.  12" Fire Water Line.

[Highrise Tower]

All the illegal dumping around this site has me frustrated. There are now 3 sofas scattered around. I know the site is monitored with cameras.  Looking forward to Hines cleaning this place up.

[jmitch94]

5 hours ago, Highrise Tower said:

All the illegal dumping around this site has me frustrated. There are now 3 sofas scattered around. I know the site is monitored with cameras.  Looking forward to Hines cleaning this place up.

A ton of 1.75 liter liquor bottles get dumped here every few months, pretty odd. Just a mass of detritus and broken glass surround the site.

[CREguy13]

AWESOME. Phase 1 set to break ground later this year.  2021 is going to be a crazy year for Houston and certainly in the emergence of its life science sector.

 

First look: Hines releases initial renderings of planned Levit Green life sciences district

Hines released the first renderings of phase one of Levit Green, which is set to break ground near the interchange of Highway 288 and Holcombe Boulevard/Old Spanish Trail later this year.

COURTESY OF HINES

By Jeff Jeffrey  –  Reporter, Houston Business Journal

21 minutes ago

 

Houston-based Hines is offering the first glimpse of what its planned 53-acre life science innovation district near the Texas Medical Center will ultimately look like.

Hines released the first renderings of phase one of Levit Green, which is set to break ground near the interchange of Highway 288 and Holcombe Boulevard/Old Spanish Trail later this year.

Envisioned as more than a typical “live-work-play” mixed-use development, Hines aims to make Levit Green the kind of industry-led, purpose-built life sciences cluster that rivals those in San Francisco, San Diego and the famed Life Sciences Corridor in Boston.

Hines Senior Managing Director John Mooz told the Houston Business Journal that there is no doubt that the vision for Levit Green is ambitious. But he said Houston is the perfect place to give coastal life sciences clusters a run for their money.

“When you see these life sciences cluster cities that have 15 million to 20 million square feet of dedicated, purpose-built space for researchers and developers of life sciences technology, there is no reason Houston shouldn’t have that as well.”

Mooz said the Texas Medical Center and the surrounding area — which is home to world’s largest medical ecosystem, complete with the top location for clinical studies and research in the country — is uniquely positioned for a life sciences research district that caters to industry-leading life sciences companies.

“Houston is quickly emerging as a top life science cluster city and has been able to do so without the purpose-built product established in other locations,” Mooz said. “When you look at the fastest-growing areas of life sciences development — pharmaceuticals, biosciences, medical devices and advanced biomedical manufacturing — Houston has all of that. It just didn’t have a district that was designed to suit the sciences, rather than the other way around.”

Enter Levit Green.

The initial phase of the nine-building development calls for the construction of a five-story, 270,000-square-foot research building, which will be built to include a range of amenities specifically designed to support laboratory research.

The 53-acre life sciences district known as Levit Green will include nine office buildings built around a series of man-made lakes.

COURTESY OF HINES

The initial building’s features will include 100% redundant emergency power, enhanced structural vibration attenuation, augmented mechanical systems, 33-foot structural bay depths and floorplates in excess of 55,000 square feet. The latter feature was included to enable research and office teams to create hyper-efficient configurations that enable teamwork and collaboration, Mooz said.

The project is slated to break ground on phase one in September, with occupancy beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022. Mooz declined to comment on the how much the initial building will cost to construct.

   

 

But for all of the technology factored into the design, Mooz said Hines wanted to ensure the building included the kinds of amenities that make going to work an enjoyable experience.

The master plan for Levit Green includes several lakes in the heart of the district, with each building designed to embrace the planned waterfronts.

The phase one building, for example, will include restaurant and retail space on the bottom floor, with outside dining space where researchers and technicians can gather for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as they kick around ideas next to the water.

The first building within Hines' Levit Green development will include restaurant and retail space where employees can gather for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine while they kick around ideas.

COURTESY OF HINES

Of course, when you mention water in Houston, you’re also invoking memories of past flooding events.

Mooz said flooding-prevention was a key part of its design for Levit Green. Not only did the site not flood during Hurricane Harvey, Hines has spent the past several years working with the city and Harris County on the design to ensure that it meets and exceeds the higher resilience and retention standards adopted in the wake of the storm.

 

“When you talk to people about Houston, that’s often one of the first things they ask about. We have found that it’s often best to lead with how we’re approaching flooding so they know their offices will be safe, regardless.”

For Hines, reaching the point where the company can share the initial renderings of what promises to be a revolutionary life sciences cluster in the city is a significant milestone.

The company began the initial talks with 2ML Real Estate Interests, formerly known as The Grocers Supply Co. Inc., to acquire the site of some Grocers Supply warehouse and distribution facilities for Levit Green in 2016.

In fact, Levit Green takes its name from the family behind 2ML Real Estate Interests.

But in the years since those talks resulted in Hines taking over the property, much of the work has focused on ensuring Hines got the design right.

To design the building, Hines tapped St. Louis-based HOK, which has extensive experience designing properties for scientific research firms. Hines also hired JLL’s (NYSE: JLL) bicoastal team of life science experts to serve as leasing representative for the project.

For nearly two years, Mooz said, the company sent teams to life sciences clusters across the country to see what kinds of facilities and amenities competing cities offered. Hines also drew on the company’s experience designing and building “complicated” laboratory environments around the world, which include a research center for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, petrochemical labs and research facilities for clinical clients, among others.

 

“We really wanted to ensure that we were delivering a top-of-the-class building that was on par with or better than any of those found in what we see as our competitor cities,” Mooz said.

It also doesn’t hurt that the life sciences sector has been one of the few bright spots on an otherwise lagging commercial real estate market, nationally.

In Houston, where the office market has stumbled along for years amid vacancy rates in excess of 20%, a number of developers have been making plays in the life sciences space to find opportunities.

Houston-based Medistar Corp. is developing a 30-story high-rise, dubbed Horizon Tower, near the Texas Medical Center in partnership with Texas A&M University.

The 485,000-square-foot, 17-story office project is being built atop a 13-story parking structure at 6929 Main St. and will be part of the planned Texas A&M Innovation Plaza. It's slated to deliver in early 2023.

Cushman & Wakefield was recently hired to provide agency leasing services for Horizon Tower.

In addition to Levit Green and Texas A&M Innovation Plaza, other examples of local high-profile life sciences real estate projects include the Texas Medical Center’s planned $1.5 billion TMC3 expansion.

[thatguysly]

Looks like they scaled back some of the building heights but this still looks incredible when all the phases are completed. Between this and TMC3, Houston will finally catch up quickly to the world leaders on the research front. 

Edited February 11, 2021 by thatguysly

[Texasota]

This is looking a lot more suburban corporate campus-y than I was hoping. Still glad it's happening, but it's definitely less interesting looking than TMC3

[Avossos]

1 minute ago, Texasota said:

This is looking a lot more suburban corporate campus-y than I was hoping. Still glad it's happening, but it's definitely less interesting looking than TMC3

Agree 100%... but I was stewing on this thought. Perhaps the potential tenants low-key prefer this “campus” feel.. I’ve seen it so many times (Dallas / Omaha / Bay Area). I’m down if it gets the right tenants, but hopefully they can make this feel fresh and dynamic too.

[Highrise Tower]

Another rendering that Hines released.

https://www.hines.com/properties/levit-green-houston

[EllenOlenska]

I personally think it'll be nice when it's finally built out along 99 in Spring, Tx. 

[ZRFkris]

  Wonder what the building in bottom left corner is, building number 9?

[Avossos]

Is this development ignoring the columbia tap rail trail?

[X.R.]

30 minutes ago, Avossos said:

Is this development ignoring the columbia tap rail trail?

Hines' developments around town have been super mindful of bikes and bike storage, I'll go out on a limb here and the lane and bike usage in general will be heavily integrated. Especially so given what they are aspiring to with this development. Doesn't the Tap basically die right there anyway though once you get across 288?

[j_cuevas713]

I’m excited to see this happening but I’m seriously tired of seeing bland glass buildings with no real character. While this is a great development, the design is just boring as hell. 

[Smacgregor]

3 hours ago, X.R. said:

Hines' developments around town have been super mindful of bikes and bike storage, I'll go out on a limb here and the lane and bike usage in general will be heavily integrated. Especially so given what they are aspiring to with this development. Doesn't the Tap basically die right there anyway though once you get across 288?

With this development moving ahead, I'm hoping a bike path is put in on Dixie Dr. sooner rather than later. It would directly connect the Columbia Tap to Hermann Park over the Bill Coats bridge, which is itself a cool location. A dedicated path over the 288 bridge on Dixie would also make the apartments going in on the corner of Bowling Green eminently walkable, not to mention the existing complexes closer to OST.

[Highrise Tower]

On 2/11/2021 at 10:45 AM, ZRFkris said:

  Wonder what the building in bottom left corner is, building number 9?

Larger rendering from Hines. The ghosted tower is Phase II? Looks to be across from Holcombe.

https://www.hines.com/properties/levit-green-houston

[Naviguessor]

The three structures at the top of the rendering, by 288 look to me like residential structures.  

[HOUCAJUN]

On 10/19/2019 at 6:14 AM, CrockpotandGravel said:

Originally posted by Naviguessor, December 2018  in the original thread for Grocers Supply Co. | 3131 Holcombe Blvd | Medical Center.


 

This interesting and ambitious "Confidential Master Plan" shows up on the Munoz Albin Project page on their Website. 

Thanks to research from another Haifer researching the Colombe d'Or tower.   

 

https://munozalbin.com/project/old-market-east-omaha-master-plan/

Originally posted by CaptainJilliams December 2018 in the previous thread for Grocers Supply Co. | 3131 Holcombe Blvd | Medical Center.



Not to get anybody too excited, but here's the conceptual rendering from the link Naviguessor posted above:



 

This wonderful development is expected to break ground in Q2. Is the tallest tower seen here still in the plans?

[houstontexasjack]

1 hour ago, HOUCAJUN said:

This wonderful development is expected to break ground in Q2. Is the tallest tower seen here still in the plans?

Not likely. I think Gensler is responsible for the master plan. That prior one was done by Munoz Albin.

[Highrise Tower]

Notice of Virtual Public Hearing sign has been posted. For a Mixed-Use Development.

[Highrise Tower]