Shell Oil to Relocate Personnel from Iconic Downtown Tower

HOUSTON, TX -- Shell Oil Company, considered one of the most iconic companies of the downtown Houston landscape, has announced plans to move a majority of their employees from One Shell Plaza by early 2017.

Employees were notified Tuesday that they will be relocating the company's Woodcreek complex and Shell Technology Center on the west side of Houston.

The company provided the following statement:

"In an effort to meet the ever changing market conditions and optimize resources for future opportunities, Shell will move all staff in the Houston Central Business District, with the exception of those in Trading, to Shell-owned facilities on the west side of the city, including both Woodcreek and the Shell Technology Center. The changes will be taken into effect the first quarter of 2017.

"Shell values our position and presence in the Houston area – for our ongoing business, offshore and onshore training needs, and long-time relationships in the community. Houston also remains critical to our core business; it's where we have much of our expertise, including engineering and operations support, as well two technology/research centers."

Since 1971, when On Shell Plaza was opened, the Shell Oil Company has maintained its operational base in downtown Houston.

In the early 1960s, Houston was already known as a big player in the oil industry, in the mid-20th Century, oil companies were headquartered in other major U.S. cities.

Shell, which had headquarters in New York, and had employees scattered throughout the U.S., sought to consolidate their workforce into a singular facility

It was unheard of at the time to make such a drastic and unconventional move toward a more centralized workforce

In 1969, Shell announced its plan to consolidate operations and move 1,000 to 1,400 employees to Houston.

The exodus from the Big Apple to Houston began in 1970 as One Shell neared completion, and although some make the move to Houston, some refused forcing Shell to hire 700 new employees.

Shell’s move was followed by Pennzoil in 1975, and the growth of the banking industry in the 1970s and early 1980s.

"It's a gross exaggeration to say Shell caused Houston's growth," former Shell CEO Jack Little told he Houston Chronicle. "but Shell certainly helped to establish Houston and to amplify its significant role in oil and gas. Other companies followed in short order."

Image: Roger W. via Flickr