On October 14, 2026, Welcome Group broke ground on Thorpe’s new 87,450-square-foot build-to-suit facility in Pearland’s Lower Kirby District. Thorpe will consolidate several Houston-area operations into one central facility there.
Thorpe Plant Maintenance & Engineering provides specialized engineering, manufacturing and industrial maintenance solutions to customers across the energy, petrochemical, chemical, power and other industrial sectors. Its capabilities include refractory systems, corrosion protection, insulation and specialty mechanical services that support the operation, maintenance and performance of critical industrial infrastructure.
“
This groundbreaking is a strong example of the value of the partnership between the City of Pearland, PEDC and Welcome Group. Through strategic investments in the site, we have created opportunities to attract quality employers like Thorpe.
Pearland City Manager Trent Epperson
Partnership that Drives Growth
Thorpe is the first major tenant secured through the Hooper Road Redevelopment initiative. This multi-year public-private partnership between PEDC and Welcome Group is designed to strengthen industrial growth and investment in Lower Kirby.
PEDC began working with Welcome Group in 2022 on redeveloping multiple tracts at the northwest corner of Kirby Drive and Fruge Road. A development agreement supported land acquisition, demolition, site preparation, drainage and road improvements. Under it, Welcome Group consolidated 25 acres and committed to building at least 250,000 square feet of modern industrial space. The result is Lower Kirby Business Park, a four-building, 250,450-square-foot Class A industrial campus. Thorpe will occupy Building D, the largest in the development.
A Purpose-Built Facility
Thorpe’s new facility will bring manufacturing, engineering, fabrication, warehousing and field services support together under one roof. The space will support the company’s industrial maintenance and refractory operations, which will improve coordination across business functions, streamline distribution and give Thorpe more flexibility to serve customers throughout the Houston region.
The location adds to Pearland’s growing advanced manufacturing ecosystem. It also benefits from strong infrastructure and proximity to the region’s industrial base. The campus will feature tilt-wall construction, clear heights up to 34 feet, three-phase 480V power up to 3,000 amps and 20-ton crane-ready capabilities.
Lower Kirby District
The Lower Kirby District is a 1,200-acre mixed-use development in northwest Pearland, fronting South Beltway 8 and State Highway 288. Located about 20 miles south of downtown Houston and less than 20 minutes from William P. Hobby Airport, the district connects businesses to Houston’s major ports, industrial centers and regional workforce.
