HOUSTON – The new Hines office tower in downtown Houston, has reached 50 percent occupancy with the signing of a 225,000-sf lease by Chicago-based United Airlines.
Located at the corner of Main and Texas streets in downtown Houston, the 48-story, 1,050,000-SF office tower will be complete in early 2017. United will consolidate its Houston office employees in the building from two separate locations.
The building is being completed just as Houston office market is going through a rough patch because of the decline in the energy industry. The city’s availability rate, which measures the amount of vacant office space, has reached 20 percent – the highest point in 20 years.
The airline will be occupying floors 12 – 19 of the Hines project, which include the signature garden balconies on floors 12 and 13. United was represented in lease negotiations by Sanford Criner, Charles Gordon, Brandon Clarke, Ryan Roth and John Curtis with CBRE.
Michael Anderson and Damon Thames with Colvill Office Properties represented Hines, the building developer, owner and manager.
With this lease, 609 Main at Texas stands at 50 percent committed, Hines said in a press release.
“609 Main at Texas is the culmination of Hines’ more than half century of development expertise and will set a new standard for the office experience in Houston,” Anderson said. “We continue to see a lot of interest in the project as discerning tenants understand the value proposition, and the benefits it provides to their most important asset – the employees. Plus, it’s right in the middle of the downtown’s path of growth along vibrant Main Street.”
Other signed tenants include two law firms: Kirkland & Ellis with 62,000 SF and Hogan Lovells at 43,000 SF.
The building was designed by the internationally recognized architectural firm Pickard Chilton. The property expected to attain LEED Platinum certification upon completion.
Hines Senior Managing Director John Mooz said, “We are thrilled to welcome United Airlines, downtown Houston’s 11th largest employer, to their new home at 609 Main at Texas.”
“609 Main at Texas enjoys a prominent location in Houston’s central business district, but it is the tenants that truly make the building great,” added Philip Croker, managing director at Hines. “Adding one of the most prestigious airlines in the world to the tenant roster is truly an honor for the firm.”
The 609 Main building is catty-cornered from the historic Rice Hotel building, which has been converted into residential lofts.
August 4, 2016 Copyright 2016 Realty News Report
1 comment
I’ve added the leases up and it looks like Hines needs another couple of hundred thousand tenants to get to 50%,