Nalco Champion—a provider of chemical solutions and technologies for the oil and gas industry—announced in late 2013 it will expand its presence in Sugar Land with the construction of its new headquarters on an 18.5-acre tract within the Imperial Sugar Land development.

Construction of the new facility is expected to be completed by late 2015. Architecture firm Powers Brown designed the 133,000-square-foot facility to house the company's energy services operations and to provide workspace for up to 1,000 employees. The company has not released the number of new or retained jobs the project will bring to Sugar Land, but Nalco Champion employees working around Houston and Fresno will be relocated to the new headquarters once construction is complete, according to an official statement.

"This project will help us bring together our people as one team, creating a critical mass of industry knowledge and a research and development powerhouse to better serve our customers," said Steve Taylor, president of Nalco Champion.

In addition to the new facility, the project also includes renovations to Nalco Champion's existing 45,000-square-foot facility at 7705 Hwy. 90, Sugar Land. Upgrades include expansions to the company's research, development and engineering lab to combine the Fresno and Sugar Land departments.

Nalco Champion is owned by Ecolab—a water, hygiene and energy technologies and services company—and employs about 6,700 people with operations in 160 countries.

Other upcoming business developments

Texas Instruments is working to complete construction of its new headquarters at Hwy. 59 and University Boulevard by summer 2014. The 160,000-square-foot facility sits on 7 acres within the Telfair commercial district and will bring 375 jobs to the community. The company announced the relocation in early 2012 after 45 years of operating in Stafford.

Fluor Enterprises closed on a land deal with Newland Communities in late 2013 for a 50-acre tract within the Telfair commercial district at Hwy. 59 and University Boulevard. The company made a deal with the city to remain in Sugar Land for the foreseeable future. Fluor's lease at its current Lake Pointe Plaza location expires in 2021.