MetroNational lands Boardwalk, NuScale and UT Austin at 990 Town & Country

MetroNational says its 990 Town & Country office tower is 93% leased less than a year after acquisition, with new tenants including Boardwalk Pipelines, NuScale Power and UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business. The fast leasing pace stands out in a Houston office market with 26.7% vacancy and shows demand for long-term ownership and high-quality space.

Why it matters: - MetroNational’s rapid leasing of 990 Town & Country signals that premium, well-located office space can still win tenants in a soft Houston market. - The building’s 93% occupancy contrasts with Houston’s 26.7% vacancy rate. - The tenant mix brings energy, infrastructure and higher education users into one of the city’s key office corridors.

What happened: - MetroNational says 990 Town & Country is 93% leased less than one year after the company acquired the building in August 2025. - The 452,000-square-foot Class AA office tower sits at the crossroads of the West Loop and Energy Corridor, with direct access to I-10 and Beltway 8. - MetroNational partnered with JLL to lead leasing efforts. - Boardwalk Pipelines signed the building’s largest lease, a 143,253-square-foot deal, and will relocate its headquarters to 990 Town & Country. - NuScale Power leased space for a new regional operations center. - The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business leased about 30,000 square feet on the sixth floor to expand Houston programming.

The details: - MetroNational repositioned 990 Town & Country as a workplace destination after buying the former Marathon headquarters property. - The building offers Class AA finishes and sits near CityCentre, Memorial and Town & Country Village. - Boardwalk said the move reflects its growth and gives employees room to expand with the business. - NuScale said the Houston location puts the company closer to energy industry partners tied to its work across the energy and industrial sectors. - McCombs’ buildout includes tiered classrooms, a 7,000-square-foot multipurpose area, study rooms, staff offices and terrace access for Weekend MBA students. - MetroNational is a privately held, family-owned Houston real estate company founded in 1954 and overseeing 11 million square feet of commercial property, mainly in Greater Houston. - MetroNational’s portfolio includes office, multifamily, retail, hospitality, healthcare and activated green and public spaces. - MetroNational’s destinations include Memorial City Mall, CityCentre retail, The Hotel ZaZa Memorial City and The Westin Memorial City.

Between the lines: - The leasing momentum suggests tenants are still willing to sign long-term deals when a building offers quality space, access and a stable ownership profile. - MetroNational is using a long-hold strategy rather than short-term asset optimization, which can appeal to companies making multi-year site decisions. - The tenant roster shows demand from organizations that want proximity to Houston’s energy ecosystem and a workplace that supports recruiting and collaboration.

What’s next: - Boardwalk will complete its headquarters relocation into the building. - NuScale will operate its Houston regional center from the Energy Corridor location. - McCombs will use the new space to grow its Houston business education programming. - MetroNational is likely to keep marketing the remaining space as one of Houston’s most leased-up office towers in a challenging market.

The bottom line: - 990 Town & Country’s near-full leasing shows that in Houston’s office market, location, tenant experience and long-term ownership can still drive outsized demand.