LNG firm Cheniere Energy is moving its headquarters to Texas Tower, a 47-story office building at 845 Texas Ave. It’s one of the biggest office leasing deals of the year.
Cheniere Energy, the liquefied natural gas company, is moving its global headquarters to one of downtown’s newest office skyscraper in one of the biggest office deals in the central business district this year.
Cheniere Energy has leased 151,490 square-foot office space plus about 16,700 square feet of outdoor space at 845 Texas Avenue. The firm will relocate next year from 700 Milam at Pennzoil Place.
Cheniere Energy is among five new office tenants who recently signed onto to Texas Tower, the 47-story tower developed by Houston-based real estate firm Hines and Canadian real estate firm Ivanhoé Cambridge. Designed by Connecticut-based architecture firm Pelli Clarke & Partners, the skyline-changing, 1.2 million square-foot tower opened in December and is already about 70 leased, Hines said.
Cheniere’s move is part of an ongoing flight-to-quality trend in which companies are relocating to newer office buildings that often have enhanced sustainability features and other updated building perks such as modern designs, more outdoor space, restaurants and high-tech conferencing centers. Although the flight-to-quality trend was well established before the pandemic, it’s become even more pronounced among companies seeking to entice employees back to the office, including Cheniere.
“Companies are absolutely having to look at differentiated, hyper-amenitized, great locations if they’re going to bring all of their employees back,” said John Mooz senior managing director at Hines. (That theme) keeps coming up. We’ve just signed five leases and all of them have said that.”
Cheniere was attracted to Texas Tower in part because of the building’s LEED Platinum designation, the highest level achievable on the U.S. Green Building Council’s popular sustainability ranking system.
“Our new Texas Tower headquarters reflects our company’s culture, with LEED certified efficiency, vibrant green space that inspires innovation and modern work areas where teamwork can thrive,” Jack Fusco, Cheniere’s chief executive, said in a statement. “Through the years and through the pandemic, Cheniere has remained committed to retaining a downtown Houston presence that provides the best working environment for our team.”
