Hicks Ventures, a Houston-based firm led by Pat Hicks, is developing a mass timber office on the Katy Freeway in West Houston.
The six-story, 200,000-SF Class A office building is targeting net zero energy operational carbon, Hick said,
“This is a model example of how Houston, the energy capital of the world, can effectively combat the climate crisis by employing the most sustainable building technologies,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in a press release.
The building, called Framework @ Block 10, will result in carbon reduction and add to corporate ESG goals and health and wellness tenant goals.
A timber building has a negative carbon imprint equal to taking 2,000 cars off the road for one year.
The new building will be located at 10496 Katy Freeway, on the north side of I-10 between Gessner and Beltway 8, facing CITYCENTRE and Memorial City’s campus across from I-10. It sits on the 13.5-acre site is Block 10 West, the former “Great Indoors” big box retail building that Hicks Ventures renovated/repurposed into an office building in 2013.
The complete project structure will be constructed using sustainably sourced heavy timber. As a result of mass timber’s ability to store carbon, the building will save more than 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and a 100% reduction in outdoor potable municipal water consumption, and more than a 50 percent reduction in indoor potable municipal water consumption.
This project is expected to minimize wasteful energy use from the implementation of a rainwater harvesting cistern, full roof solar panels, LED lighting, and a sensory system. The developer will use and purchase 100% renewable energy from power providers in addition to collecting and using from the mechanical systems.
“Hicks’ team goal for the project is to achieve the highest sustainability and health and wellness standards set today for office buildings according to LEED® Platinum, WiredScore Platinum, and WELL™ Platinum building standards,” said Pat Hicks, founder of Hicks Ventures. “The building infrastructure and systems will accommodate tenants’ desire to achieve ESG and net-zero energy goals, including a program for ongoing performance with the target to achieve the LEED operations and maintenance certification at a Platinum level. This developer-tenant partnership would result in Texas’ first commercial office building to achieve net-zero energy operational standards.”
The mass timber structure will be comprised of dowel laminated timber (DLT) floor and roof panels supported by glulam post and beam framing designed to showcase the beauty and efficiency of the wood. DLT is a sustainable alternative to steel and concrete. According to Work Design Magazine, the unique physiological impact of touching wood has been shown to reduce sympathetic nervous activity and blood pressure – a phenomenon not experienced with any other building material.
The experienced design team includes Gensler, design architect; StructureCraft, mass timber design and engineering; Gensler Global Sustainability Team; CMTA, MEP engineer; and HOAR Construction, general contractor.
“The visually distinct, six-story Framework @ Block 10 is a celebration of mass timber and Hicks Ventures’ early adoption of the material in the Houston area,” said Jerry Alexander, principal and co-managing director at Gensler Houston. “As a firm, Gensler is committed to eliminating all net emissions associated with our work, and Framework @ Block 10 exemplifies a project dedicated to environmental stewardship.”
