Pearland lined up for Large Tech Manufacturing Plant

In Pearland, Applied Optoelectronics, which produces components used in artificial intelligence in datacenter and communication networks, has purchased 400,000-SF of new manufacturing space in Pearland for the manufacturing facilities.

The two adjacent buildings are located in Pearland’s Lower Kirby District where a number of clean manufacturers, including pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies, have opened new facilities in the last seven or eight years. The 1,200-acre Lower Kirby District is 10 miles due south of the Texas Medical Center, near Highway 288 and Beltway 8.

Company Manufactures Components Used in Artificial Intelligence (AI)

“We’re thrilled to welcome Applied Optoelectronics to Pearland as they expand their manufacturing footprint,” said Pearland Mayor Quentin Wiltz. “This project will bring high-quality jobs, strengthen our local economy, and deepen the innovation ecosystem that makes Pearland a destination for forward-looking companies.” The Pearland Economic Development Corp. assisted in the project.

Applied Optoelectronics is now building-out the interior and manufacturing facilities in the two Pearland buildings it recently purchased at 14621 Kirby Drive and 11555 N. Spectrum Boulevard.

Sugar Land-based Applied Optoelectronics, a publicly traded firm with shares traded on the NASDAQ exchange, also has manufacturing facilities in Sugar Land, Taipei, Taiwan and Ningbo, China, in addition to a research and development facility in Atlanta.

Company Founded at the University of Houston

The company was founded at the University of Houston in February1997 by Dr. Chih Hsiang “Thompson” Lin, who serves as the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board.

Stefan Murry, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer for the company, said the Pearland facilities “will be instrumental in supporting our long-term growth strategy, enabling us to expand production of advanced optical transceivers and strengthen AOI’s position as a key supplier to the AI and cloud infrastructure markets.”

The company’s two Pearland buildings were developed spec by Stream Realty Partners. Building One, located at 14621 Kirby Drive, has 117,247 SF of rear-load industrial space with a 32-foot clear height, 43 dock-high doors, and two ramps. Building Two, at 11555 North Spectrum Blvd, spans 267,262 SF in a cross-dock configuration with a 36-foot clear height, 58 dock-high doors, and four ramps. EE Reed Construction was the general contractor. Ware Malcomb was the project architect, and Halff was the civil engineer.

Last year, Applied Optoelectronics reported an expansion in Sugar Land, consisting of a new manufacturing line at the company’s headquarters at 13139 Jess Pirtle Blvd. and a new 210,000-SF facility for manufacturing optical transceivers for AI-focused data centers.