"I think what helped in our selection was our commitment to sustainable design," John Mooz, vice president for Houston-based Hines, tells GlobeSt.com. "It was a natural fit with their desire and our background in that area." He says Shell had intended from the onset that the Woodcreek Park campus expansion would be LEED-qualified. "That is a significant initiative by Shell," he adds. Hines' founder Gerald D. Hines' reputation as an expert in sustainable design added extra leverage for the contract win.

The development site at 150 N. Dairy Ashford Rd. is a 43-acre wooded tract adjoining the energy giant's 34-acre footprint of seven office buildings and one restaurant, a $62.7-million-assessed property developed in 1980. The construction tab for the expansion isn't available, but it's sure to be hefty based on today's material costs and the "green" design.

Dirt work got under way yesterday. "I believe we will be putting in foundations in the next three weeks or so," Mooz says. The garage is ticketed to deliver by midyear 2007; the six-story office building and single-story amenity center will open in the following December. The amenity building is a combo conference center and fitness facility for the entire campus.

Shell, an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell plc, plans to house its Exploration & Production Americas Co. in the new building. The business plan is to keep the campus as the division's North American hub.

Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum's Houston team designed the campus addition. I.A. Naman + Associates Inc. and Walter P. Moore & Associates Inc., both from Houston, are the consulting engineers. DE Harvey Builders Inc. of, also Houston based, is the general contractor. Tim Relyea and Joe Peddie with Cushman & Wakefield of Texas Inc. represented Shell in planning and advisory services for the project and will follow through as its tenant rep throughout the development process. The expansion is starting out with Shell as the owner and Hines in the development role.

Hines and Shell have had a 35-year landlord-tenant relationship. "We are pleased to further that relationship through our involvement with the Woodcreek facility," Mooz says, adding that there was a market competition for the developer's role.