Located in the city's Energy Corridor, the new Aramco Services Houston Research Center will have more than 50,000 square feet of office and state-of-the-art laboratory space which will serve to advance the discovery and recovery of oil and gas. The Center in Houston is one of three ASC research centers in the United States. They join a worldwide network of research centers established to leverage international scientific expertise and to bring solutions to the challenges of energy exploration and production. It further complements the cutting-edge work by Saudi Aramco's Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center's Advanced Research Center (EXPEC ARC) and its Research and Development Center (R&DC) both located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
The design of the facility is a reflection of the company’s brand and its vision for the future. It is intended to capture architecturally the cutting edge research that would be taking place inside. Located in an existing high bay office space, the plan features transparency between the two distinct program spaces: the lab areas and the supporting offices. Glazing was used throughout the fronts of all offices and labs area thereby bringing in light further into the building. Emphasis was put into defining multiple double height open zones to let light in from above and creating spaces for both formal and informal meeting spaces that foster collaboration. This dynamic work environment allows the company to be competitive in the recruitment and retainment of future talent.
The company’s brand is immediately experienced as one approaches the visitor entry lobby and reception. The new lobby is an expansion to the existing tilt wall building and replaces the previous rustic architecture with a modern exterior façade through the use of zinc oxide metal panels, architectural fins and glass wall system. A double height space, the lobby features a monumental stair and a sculptural light fixture. Throughout the office space, the company’s brand is reinforced through the use of a palette modern materials such as glass, brushed stainless steel, sleek carpet tile patterns and pendant lighting while using colors that push the company’s signature and logo
