HOUSTON—Less than four months after Third Palm Capital announced its vision for the evolution of the former ExxonMobil Chemical Energy Corridor District headquarters, the 35-acre Republic Square campus is reporting a flurry of renovation, leasing and pedestrian activity. Boxer Property, which is overseeing property upgrades, as well as onsite leasing and management for Republic Square, has welcomed 18 tenants–in diverse fields ranging from finance and event planning to oil and gas–since late September.

“Exxon Mobil created something only a large company could afford, and now the resulting environment is directly benefitting small business in its new life as Republic Square,” Boxer Property president, Justin Segal tells GlobeSt.com.

The tenants now occupy a freshly renovated first floor wing at Republic Square I, a four-story building oriented to capture views of landscaped courtyards, expansive grounds and central lake. Encompassing 320,000 square feet of office space, Republic Square I also features an expansive commissary kitchen and multi-level garages.

“When I saw the view, I was sold,” said Lisbet Marquez, managing partner at DoMore Strategic Advisors, a company that provides expense reduction services for companies. “Not only could we easily envision the potential for a presence in this location, but the value and amenities were ideally suited to a growing business like ours.”

Republic Square I's phased interior redesign, which has recently introduced coffee bars and break stations, will soon debut an updated lobby plus office-adjacent gathering pods. The recent improvements will be showcased at a December 7 broker open house lunch.

While initial interest in the refreshed product has been strong, Boxer Property and Third Palm Capital are eagerly anticipating the next stage of reinvention, which will incorporate the launch of Boxer Property's signature co-working/collaborative office space, Workstyle, with 20,000 square feet of suites and an array of amenities including common area lounges, meeting spaces and enhanced WiFi. The product is slated to deliver soon after the New Year.

“In a market where landlords are seeing many tenants leave their buildings, we are fortunate to have a one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable setting that is serving as a major asset, alongside our growing list of amenities, to build occupancy,” said Stephen Kradjian, head of asset management at Boxer Property.

An extensive overhaul of the campus' lush grounds, spanning Memorial Drive to Interstate 10 and framed by the BP America campus and western gateway to Terry Hershey Park, is evolving with the addition of lighting, trash receptacles, pet stations, directional signage and parking upgrades to enhance accessibility and ease of use. With its perimeter fencing and dense undergrowth now gone, the property is open to the public and being embraced by area residents and nearby office workers as a lakeside spot for a morning walk, picnic lunch or afternoon break.

According to Randall Tuller, executive manager for Third Palm Capital, “In its previous incarnation, the most access the community had to this incredible property was the fence. In the last three months, we've been able to start introducing the missing appeal. Our goal is to create an additional asset for west Houston by being a good neighbor, incorporating pedestrian-friendly connections with Terry Hershey Park, and providing a dynamic and nurturing environment that we hope will attract businesses that haven't considered the area before.”

Instant Insights /

Former ExxonMobil HQ Provides More Access to Future Tenants

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