The project team joined Norton Rose Fulbright in Discovery Green for official topping out ceremony for the 375,000-square-foot class-A office
HOUSTON, TX – Skanska, a leading global development and construction firm, today celebrated the topping out of its highly-anticipated Discovery Green office tower, 1550 on the Green. As the 28-story, 375,000-square-foot Class-A office building nears completion, the milestone event, featuring leaders from anchor tenant Norton Rose Fulbright, marked a significant step toward delivering the greenest new office development in the Houston market to date.
“As the name suggests, 1550 on the Green has been designed and built with sustainability at its core, and there’s no better place for the greenest office building in Houston than in Discovery Green,” said Matt Damborsky, Executive Vice President for Skanska USA Commercial Development’s Houston market. “We’re eager to continue the remaining parts of the construction process and begin welcoming tenants and visitors to the building later this year.”
Once complete, 1550 on the Green will feature 7,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space with extra-wide pedestrian zones under a canopy of trees that creates an initial connection with nature carried throughout the building. Above the retail space, office tenants will be greeted by a dramatic lobby equipped with touchless turnstiles, app-based guest registration and destination dispatch elevators that create seamless movements throughout the building. Tenants will also have access to a fully equipped fitness center and exclusive outdoor terraces on floors 12 and 20. On level 28, a stunning event space with an outdoor terrace will bring wide views atop the surrounding greenery.
“1550 on the Green demonstrates Skanska’s continued dedication to building projects that matter,” said Dennis Yung, Executive Vice President/General Manager of Skanska’s Houston building operations. “It is an honor to make Houston an even better place to live, work, and play by using sustainable building methods, and it’s exciting to see the city’s anticipation for this state-of-the-art facility grow.”
“When considering places for our new home, we wanted a vibrant downtown location reflective of Houston’s diversity, our firm’s commitment to sustainability and the new opportunities coming to our city; Discovery Green checked all of those boxes,” said Kevin O’Gorman, Houston office Partner-in-Charge for Norton Rose Fulbright. “Thanks to Skanska and BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, we found the perfect building for our people – one that focuses on wellness, productivity and happiness – in an ideal location.”
Located in the heart of Discovery Green, 1550 on the Green is part of a three-block master plan by Skanska, designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group to achieve LEED® Platinum certification. 1550 marks BIG’s first office project in Texas and reflects Skanska’s tenant-first approach, incorporating sustainability and tenant wellness into design elements and features throughout the building.
Skanska has built and restored local landmarks in Houston for decades ranging from historic renovations like San Jacinto Memorial Building on the Houston Community College campus, to the new construction of world-class sports facilities including NRG Stadium, and invaluable healthcare resources like the expansion of LBJ General Hospital’s emergency department. Skanska’s Houston portfolio spans from the Energy Corridor, through Uptown, and into the Central Business District. With a strong commitment to sustainability and technology, Skanska has successfully delivered over 1.8 million square feet of Class A office development with 3009 Post Oak Boulevard, West Memorial Place, and Bank of America Tower, the first LEED v4 Platinum Core & Shell project in the United States.