SABIC, a global company specializing in diversified chemicals headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, announced in April its initiation of a project to scope and design a new Americas Region Head Office in Katy located at 23500 Franz Road. The office would include an innovation center and administration offices that will house 1,000 employees, according to SABIC spokesperson for Corporate Affairs MaryJane Mudd. Construction plans for the proposed office are contingent upon permits and completion of final scoping and design, according to Mudd. She said the Katy location was chosen because the company already owned the property on Franz Road and needed ample room for the expansion. “Not only did the land offer the necessary space required for both an innovation center and administrative offices, West Houston is a great place for our employees to work and live,” Mudd said. Although there is not a finalized timeline for the project, the company said plans to complete the expansion could take up to four years. “We anticipate it will hold approximately 1,000 employees,” Mudd said. “The current projection is to grow from about 400 employees today in Houston to about 1,000 by 2022.”