In what is becoming a more common occurrence in Texas, a developer is constructing a mass timber commercial office project. However, what might make this latest project by Hicks Ventures different, the developer claims it will be the first Texas commercial office building targeting net zero operational carbon when its completed in 2024. Framework @ Block 10 will be a six-story, 200,000 square-foot Class A office building facing CITYCENTRE and Memorial City’s campus across from I-10.

The complete project structure will be constructed using sustainably sourced heavy timber. Hicks says it’s a first for a Houston office building. As a result of mass timber’s ability to store carbon, the building will save more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions and a 100% reduction in outdoor potable municipal water consumption, and more than a 50% reduction in indoor potable municipal water consumption.

This project is expected to minimize energy use from the implementation of a rainwater harvesting cistern, full roof solar panels, LED lighting, and a sensory system.