V
aalco Energy has moved its corporate headquarters to a larger office space in the Westchase District. The Houston-based oil and gas company signed a five-year lease for 23,500 square feet on the entire fourth floor of Affinius Capital's 2500 CityWest Boulevard, a 25-story tower. Newmark's Joshua Brown and Audrey Selber represented Vaalco in the deal, while Cushman & Wakefield's Win Haggard represented Affinius Capital.

    The new location is about 2 miles from Vaalco's previous headquarters at Woodbranch Investments' 9800 Richmond Avenue, where it occupied around 21,000 square feet. The company has expanded its workforce to about 85 employees and contractors, necessitating the move to a larger space. "We needed room to grow, and we were drawn to the amenities and location of 2500 CityWest Boulevard," said Lisa Ruiz, Vaalco's vice president of global human resources.

    The building offers a fitness center, coffee shop, and conference spaces, as well as a mix of individual offices, open cubicles, and shared workspaces. The move has increased the building's occupancy rate to 82 percent, according to Haggard. Other notable tenants include Sabic, Aspen Technology, and Loomis.

    Vaalco's relocation reflects a broader trend in Houston, where companies are seeking updated office spaces in prime areas like West Houston. Notable leases in the area include Noble Corporation's headquarters at CityWestPlace and Apache Corporation's consolidation of 800 employees at One Briarlake Plaza.