See the Video

The secrets of Exxon Mobil's new north Houston "campus" are finally revealed

A video rendering of Exxon Mobil's new mysterious massive office campus has come out, shedding light on a project that's been shrouded in secrecy. The Houston Business Journal discovered and posted the video.

Planned for a 385-acre wooded site on company-owned land at the intersection of I-45 and the Hardy Toll Road, the complex is set to consolidate the oil company's many Houston offices into one central location.

"How do we create an urban vibe? How do we create some energy in the campus?"

Visitors will approach the new site through a bold glass structure called the Energy Center, which will house corporate training areas and conference rooms. The campus beyond will integrate low-rise administrative buildings with extensive laboratory and research space.

"One of the things when we started the project that really piqued our interest about this project was this notion of a campus," Exxon Mobil project executive Mike Brown says in the video.

"How do we create an urban vibe? How do we create some energy in the campus?"

Brown explains the company's effort to create a pedestrian-friendly environment where people "come across each other by foot," yet never have to walk more than seven minutes from building to building.

The complex features "lifestyle-friendly" facilities such as a child care center and a wellness center as well as on-site dining options.

"We're creating a community that enables us to enjoy our work environment and be more productive at the same time."

Check out the video above. The animated renderings start at 1:27.

bang for your buck

These are the 6 most affordable ZIP codes for Houston renters

Bellaire, Texas

Facebook / City of Bellaire, Texas

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Trying to afford buying a home in Houston is difficult enough with current mortgage rates, and doubly so if you're already paying high rent on an apartment or a house. But there are six Houston ZIP codes where renters can get the most bang for their buck, according to a new study by financial services company CashNetUSA.

To find the most affordable ZIP codes to rent in the U.S., analysts compared median household incomes by ZIP code to the average annual rent costs using the Zillow Observed Rent Index. ZIP codes where the average annual rental costs required the lowest percentage of median household income were considered the "most affordable."

Two Houston-area ZIP codes specifically stood out in CashNetUSA's ranking of the most affordable ZIP codes for renters in America: 77401 in Bellaire (No. 9) and 77094 in the Energy Corridor (No. 12).

According to the study's findings, the average monthly cost of a rental in Bellaire comes out to $2,401.25, and the median annual income of a Bellaire household is $210,577. Analysts then calculated that the annual rent of a home in the Bellaire ZIP code only takes up 13.68 percent of a household's median income, which is the ninth-lowest in the nation.

But as Houstonians know all too well, Bellaire residents aren't exactly struggling to pay their rent, seeing as they live in one of the wealthiest places in America.

Meanwhile in Houston's 77094 ZIP, annual rent costs only represent 13.88 percent of a household's median annual income. The area – which encompasses the Kingsland Estates, Green Trails, Green Trails Oaks, Windsor Park Estates, Windsor Park Lakes, and Barker neighborhoods – has a median household income of over $168,000, and average rent costs add up to $1,944.58, according to the study.

CashNetUSA found the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code for renters nationwide is 66224 in Leawood, Kansas, where annual rent only takes a 10.57 percent cut out of a household's median annual income.

Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio's 78248 ZIP ranked as the No. 4 most affordable ZIP code for renters in the U.S., and the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code statewide. The North Texas ZIP code 75013 in Allen ranked two spots behind Houston to claim the No. 14 spot nationally.

The most affordable Houston ZIP codes for renters
CashNetUSA further unveiled the five most affordable ZIP codes across major U.S. cities, including in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

Following 77094 (which took the No. 1 spot citywide) is 77008 (No. 2), which spans Greater Heights, Houston Heights, Shady Acres, and Lazybrook/Timbergrove. Rent costs in this ZIP code averaged out to $1,856 per month, the report found.

Landing in the No. 3 spot is 77024, which includes four of Houston's historic Memorial Villages, including Hedwig, Bunker Hill, Hunters Creek, and Piney Point. The report said average rent in the area comes out to $1,730 per month, which takes up 16.88 percent of a household's median annual income.

The remaining top two most affordable ZIP codes for Houston renters are located in 77007 (Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park, Rice Military, and Crestwood/Glen Cove) and 77345 in Kingwood, which is about 30 miles north of downtown Houston.

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