Major Renovation Planned for 41-Story Marathon Oil Tower
Rendering of new exterior of Marathon Oil Tower, 5555 San Felipe.
HOUSTON – The 41-story, 1.2 million square-foot Marathon Oil Tower in Uptown Houston will undergo a comprehensive renovation, according to Madison Marquette, the leasing firm for the property.
Marathon Oil plans to relocate from the tower into a new 500,000-square-foot building to be developed in the CityCentre mixed-use complex at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Beltway 8.
Originally constructed in 1983 as Marathon Oil’s headquarters, the tower at 5555 San Felipe currently houses Marathon in roughly 65 percent of its space. Owner M-M Properties has announced plans to invest more than $25 million in upgrades to modernize the building, which sits between Yorktown and St. James.
John Spafford, executive vice president of Madison Marquette, who is leasing the property alongside Madeline Gregory, said the renovation will introduce updated interiors, expanded parking and food-hall–style dining options. He noted the building’s San Felipe location is advantageous because it avoids the heavy congestion found along Westheimer and Post Oak.
“One of the strengths of this project is its convenient location on the western edge of Houston’s most desirable live/work/play submarkets,” Spafford said. “The building is well positioned to serve Uptown’s business and amenity base while steering clear of Galleria’s most congested corridors. Its placement in a quieter, greener part of the submarket makes it more accessible to the city’s premier residential neighborhoods and talent pools.”
M-M Properties acquired the office tower in 2018 with the goal of reimagining the tenant experience from the ground up. “The renovation responds to changing tenant expectations by delivering amenities that align with the social nature of today’s workforce,” said Ken Moczulski, CEO of M-M Properties. “Creative employers need environments that balance workspace and hospitality. We apply design thinking across our projects to ensure amenities, programming, aesthetics and services work together.”
Page Architects has been retained to design three levels of upgraded amenities along with a refreshed arrival sequence and courtyard. Planned improvements include a freestanding, chef-driven restaurant with an inviting outdoor seating area and a ground-level food hall-style café. Common spaces will be upgraded to include a hospitality-inspired, two-story lobby with abundant natural light, multiple collaborative seating areas, coworking zones, robust Wi‑Fi and a state-of-the-art media wall implemented by building tenant Cyviz. Tenants will also gain access to a spa-style fitness center offering health and wellness programming suitable for both group classes and individual workouts.
