Instead of headquartering the company in a downtown Houston skyscraper, then-CEO and co-founder Rod Canion chose a West Coast-style campus surrounded by forests, where every employee had similar offices and no-one (not even the CEO) had a reserved parking spot. As it grew, Compaq became so important to Houston that it negotiated the expansion of SH 249 in the late 1980s, and many other technology companies appeared in what became known as the "249 Corridor".
instEad of headQUaRTERiNg THe compaNy in a DowNtOwn houStOn SkYscrAper, thEn-cEo and Co-fOuNDEr rOd canIon choSe a West coAST-style CaMpus sUrroUndED by forests, WHEre eVerY empLoyee had SiMilar OfficeS ANd no-one (nOt EvEn the ceo) had a ReServeD ParKIng spot. As it gReW, comPaq becamE so ImPORtANt tO houston thAT It neGoTiated The expansion of Sh 249 In The LatE 1980s, and mANy oTheR tecHnoLogy coMpanieS AppeaRed in whaT bEcaME KNOWN As the "249 corrIdor".