Designing Shell’s New Campus: A Sustainable, Flexible Workplace Built for Today—and Ready for Tomorrow.

In 2005, Shell selected HOK to master plan a new campus (1.1 million SF) on an adjacent parcel of land in west Houston to replace its existing facilities. The site presented significant constraints, including covenant height restrictions, TxDOT setbacks, easements, and expiring land leases, all of which influenced the development strategy. 

The original 1.1 million SF plan was updated in 2011 to expand the program to 1.5 million SF Over the last decade, the campus has been realized in three phases and now includes five office buildings, an amenities podium, a dedicated amenity building, and structured parking. Each office building is paired with a garage, providing flexibility and future exit strategy options. 

Organized around a central quadrangle, the campus emphasizes outdoor connectivity and social interaction. Landscaped with native plantings from a reforestation program, the quad includes water features, seating zones, and pedestrian connectors. The corporate dining facility anchors the space, featuring a green roof and an outdoor activity terrace. 

Phase I (2008): 178,000 SF office building, 1,200-space parking garage, and 30,000 SF amenities building (conference center + fitness). 

Phase II (2010): Additional 180,000 SF six-story office building. 

Phase III: Three 12-story office towers totaling 1.1 million SF and two eight-story garages with 3,250 parking spaces. 

Designed to Class A commercial standards, the buildings feature underfloor air distribution, high-performance glazing, exterior sun shading, and occupancy sensors. The campus is LEED Gold certified, operating at 23% better energy performance than ASHRAE standards and using 32% less potable water than typical commercial buildings in Houston.