First Mass Timber Office Comes to Houston by Howard Hughes Corp

Howard Hughes Corp. is making strides with its eco-friendly office building project in Cypress, as it ventures into the office sector of its master-planned community. The real estate giant has commenced construction on One Bridgeland Green, a 49,000-square-foot mass-timber office building located within the Village Green at Bridgeland Central.

Situated at 20203 Bridgeland Creek Parkway in Cypress, the office building is part of the “Northwest outlier” submarket, which only comprises less than 4 percent of Houston’s overall office inventory. With a vacancy rate of approximately 20 percent, this submarket is below the Greater Houston office vacancy rate of 27.5 percent.

Village Green is set to become the heart of Bridgeland, an expansive 11,500-acre community in the northwest suburb. In addition to One Bridgeland Green, the town center will feature a 100,000-square-foot H-E-B grocery store, restaurants, hotels, retail establishments, and entertainment options.

Mass timber construction, the building material of choice for One Bridgeland Green, is gaining popularity among developers due to its environmental benefits. This method involves the use of large pre-manufactured solid wood panels that enhance efficiency and sustainability.

The eco-friendly features of One Bridgeland Green include dowel-laminated timber decking, cross-laminated timber shear walls, low-carbon concrete, and zinc cladding. These materials contribute to the building’s renewable energy and high-performance systems, aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

Howard Hughes is seeking LEED Gold and Fitwel green building certifications for One Bridgeland Green, with expectations of significantly reducing energy usage and water consumption. The project includes a 10,000-gallon rainwater-harvesting cistern, electric vehicle charging stations, and photovoltaic rooftop panels.

Construction is scheduled to be completed by summer 2025, with the majority of the building already leased out. The company plans to announce additional leases in the coming months, as it continues its commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly development practices in Bridgeland.