JLL to lead industrial leasing at 207-acre Exploration Park

HOUSTON, Feb. 24, 2025 – ACMI Properties has selected JLL to lead leasing efforts at Exploration Park, a 207-acre lot, built-to-suit industrial park, located on NASA’s Johnson Space Center. This development is set to become a premier hub for aerospace, advanced manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence, and other hardware technology industries necessary for space commerce, space exploration and human spaceflight. JLL Senior Managing Director Richard Quarles, Vice President David Holland, and Associate Angela Watford are the brokerage team for Exploration Park.

“There is no better place for the future of space exploration than NASA’s Johnson Space Center, a site that represents excellence in space discovery,” said Richard Quarles, Senior Managing Director, JLL. “We are thrilled to be a part of this development and know this will be a one-of-a-kind opportunity for businesses looking to make a lasting impact, whether it be through research and development or manufacturing.” 

ACMI Properties’ development plan includes up to 22 buildings with a range of sizes from 15,000 to 500,000 square feet. In many cases, these buildings will be replaced with a build-to-suit concept. Initial renderings plan for facilities with 24 to 30 feet of clear height with rear or side loading, ideal for industry needs such as research and development, laboratories, clean rooms, offices, light assembly, and manufacturing. Construction on the initial phase will begin in the second quarter of 2025, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.

“Exploration Park is being designed from the ground up as a world-class center for space companies that will define the next generation of space exploration, commerce, and innovation," said Dave Dowell, Senior Director for ACMI Properties. “Built on the historic legacy of Johnson Space Center, this project represents the next evolution of American leadership in space, and we are excited to bring it to life.”

Exploration Park is strategically located on NASA’s Johnson Space Center, which is home to a range of capabilities and services including: mission planning and execution, human subsystems, spacecraft subsystems, exploration research and science, spaceflight environments and testing, and space systems. Situated at the heart of Houston’s aerospace hub, Exploration Park is near Ellington Airport, Houston Spaceport, and the Texas A&M Space Institute. With direct highway access to Houston’s major submarkets and proximity to the Port of Houston, the development offers exceptional connectivity for distribution and operations.

The Southeast submarket continues to experience rapid growth. According to JLL’s Q4 2024 Houston Industrial Market Dynamics report, the city’s development pipeline reached double digits with 12.4 million square feet under construction, for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2023, a 40% uptick quarter-over-quarter, with nearly half of the projects in the Southeast and Southwest markets, evidencing continued strong demand in the market. Additionally, Houston was second in the nation for positive net absorption in 2024, with the majority of its industrial users falling in the manufacturing category. 

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