Suzanne Edwards
Reporter-Houston Business Journal
Houston-based auto repair franchise Christian Brothers Automotive has kicked off its nationwide expansion by 135 stores — including three new Houston locations — with a new headquarters at 17725 Katy Freeway, representing a significant increase in square footage.
“We are fully moved in, we are really pleased,” said Josh Wall, head of strategic development at Christian Brothers.
For nearly 14 years, the company’s headquarters resided at 15995 North Barker’s Landing Road, a space that originally occupied 10,000 square feet. Over the years, the group had to annex an additional 5,000 square feet to accommodate new staff. The last time Christian Brothers announced a new Houston-area location was in 2011 with theopening of store in League City.
Now, the new office space occupies 24,000 square feet, with 60 corporate staff members. The group contracted Houston-based Powers Brown Architecture to design and build the 35,000-square-foot building, part of which Christian Brothers has leased to DAC Engineering, based in Houston. The remaining 10,000 square feet are still up for grabs.
For the interior design, Christian Brothers hired Houston-based Planning Design Research Corp., and for the exterior, the group hired Houston-based Redding Linden Burr Consulting Engineers.
Andy Hovis, founder of Houston-based Hovis Properties, brokered the purchase of the land for the new build.