Global Connections
There are approximately 28,000 KBR employees across the globe. Though we are separated by miles, we are all connected and working together toward a common purpose — to deliver solutions that are changing the world while honoring our ESG (environmental, social and governance) commitments. In Global Connections, we celebrate our diverse global team of teams by highlighting the communities where we live and work and some of the different ways our people get involved.
This quarter, we’re proud to feature one of the cities where it all started for KBR — Houston, Texas.
KBR in Houston
Houston is located in Southeast Texas and is the fourth largest city in the United States. Its roughly 10,000-square-mile metropolitan area includes nine counties and stretches to the Gulf of Mexico.
KBR’s history in Houston dates to 1919 with the founding of Brown & Root, a construction company. Over the years, our physical footprint in the city has changed and included numerous campuses and office sites. Since 1991, KBR Tower in the heart of downtown Houston has been our corporate headquarters. The 550-foot-tall skyscraper was built in the modernist style and is a prominent part of the iconic Houston skyline. Its prime location means it’s just a short walk to world-class restaurants, professional sporting events, an internationally renowned music and arts scene, and exciting night life.
KBR currently occupies 12 floors in KBR Tower. In 2020, as part of our “Reimagining” initiative, we selected three of those floors to create modern quad spaces. The spaces feature personal nooks and couches where teams can meet more casually or where employees can enjoy a quiet, more relaxed change of scenery to get some work done.
Having Some Fun on the Bayou
Surrounding downtown Houston is Buffalo Bayou. The slow-moving body of water runs 53 miles before emptying into Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Extensive efforts have been made over the past few years to preserve, protect and revitalize this significant natural resource, notably by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Improvements include miles of scenic walking and biking trails for those looking to get outdoors and explore. There are also numerous parks dotting the waterway throughout the city that provide options for recreation.
In addition to raising funds for this important work, KBR is proud to partner with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership to host KBR Kids Day, which takes place annually in late October. Kids and their families can participate in fun activities and a costume parade along the bayou.
Capturing a City’s Philanthropic Spirit
Community engagement and philanthropy are an integral part of Houston’s culture and KBR’s, which is part of what makes the bond between KBR and Houston so strong. Throughout the year, we actively engage with the greater Houston community through numerous events.
The KBR Charity Golf Tournament raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for local and national nonprofit organizations.
KBR partners with the Houston Fire Department to create a little Christmas spirit by donating gifts to more than 4,000 children in the greater Houston area.
ASPIRE, the employee resource group (ERG) committed to the development of women and the promotion of gender diversity at KBR, hosts an annual Picnic in the Park to help create a sense of community among our Houston employees. Along with a catered lunch, the event features activities such as cornhole, giant chess and other carnival games all held on the front lawn of KBR Tower.
Our IMPACT young professionals ERG hosts a variety of events for young employees from the Houston office, including a recent outing to an Astros game, where attendees enjoyed hot dogs and baseball at Minute Maid Park.
DID YOU KNOW?
Houston Edition
Houston is the second-fastest growing city in the U.S. behind only New York due to thriving industries including engineering, medicine, aeronautics and energy.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest rodeo show in the world. In 2022, more than 2.4 million people attended the annual event.
Greater Houston is one of the most ethnically diverse regions in the country, with over 145 different languages spoken throughout the city.
The Astrodome — former home of baseball’s Houston Astros and of former NFL team, the Houston Oilers — was the first domed, air-conditioned indoor stadium in the world and is often regarded as Houston’s most recognizable architectural structure.
Houston’s museum district — with more than 20 unique museums and science centers — boasts some of the best entertainment and art in the country.
Throughout the Houston area, there more than 1,000 food trucks, over 10,000 restaurants serving cuisine from more than 70 countries, and 50 breweries. No wonder Houston’s become a destination for food and beverage lovers from all over the world.
