Willbros Division Nabs 100,000-SF Expansion

HOUSTON-In a move to expand, Willbros Construction signed a long-term lease for a 100,000-sf manufacturing building in North Houston. The division of the locally headquartered Willbros USA Inc. will use the industrial location to repair and store equipment as well as light manufacturing.

B. Kelley Parker III, executive vice president with Cushman & Wakefield of Texas Inc., represented the tenant, which is operating in a 15,000-sf building at 7213 Mt. Houston Rd., also in the northern tier. He says the pipeline manufacturing and repair company looked at a number of spaces in the submarket for several months before finding the right fit at 2200 Lauder Rd. He says the 24-year-old structure on 14.11 acres was perfect for the company’s needs because of its large size and 10 acres of open space for outside storage.

Doortown Manufacturing LLC owned the 24-year-old building until early 2007, when Houston-based GLS Investments Inc. bought it for $2.3 million. Parker tells GlobeSt.com that GSL spent a considerable amount of capital to rehabilitate the building, including raising the roof from a 16-foot clear height to 24-foot clear height. The retooling also included 2,000 sf of office space. In the corridor, the quoted industrial rates range from $3.90 per sf to $4.20 per sf.

Parker says the deal included many tenant improvements. Willbros began moving into the building in early June and will spend the next several months to complete the process.

C&W’s senior director John F. Littman paired with Parker on behalf of the tenant. GSL was represented by its vice president, David R. Ebro.