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RWReagen

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    Downtown Houston

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  1. That's funny I just passed by there a bit ago and saw a guy inside working on the floor. So yes I would agree that the project is still going on. And if it's really just that one guy doing all the work then he has my admiration. I hope he is able to finish because it would be great to have some more eating options down under.
  2. I'm not saying Beck's Prime isn't good I'm just saying the smell is very powerful and you can practically smell it on you when you walk past there sometimes. It's like its permiated in all of the surfaces in the area. While I'm at it could we get the Allen center food court remodeled? Wow that place is straight out of 1987 with the green neon. That stuff hurts my eyes when I go there! Ha ha. But really, how about a remodel? (Blah, blah,blah tough economic times, don't want to spend money, blah, blah, blah. There I just answered my own reply!)
  3. Actually, Sonics have walk up locations in mall food courts and the ones I have seen were always crowded. Which is why I thought it would be a good money maker in a tunnel food court. Also, the smell can't be any worse than Beck's Prime in the Milam tunnel. You can smell that from a mile away and it is pretty off putting and I love bbq.
  4. Does anyone know if the food court in the tunnel between the McKinney and Milam areas is ever going to be opened or has it just been put off? How long has it been sitting there? Every time I pass by there I think it would be a gold mine with the right stores. If it was me I would put in a Taco Bell, Sonic, and a nice Chinese buffet.
  5. And their getting the tunnel's first and only soft serve ice cream machine!
  6. The wood panels are from Germany and are a prominent feature throughout the public areas of the building. I would like to see some kind of ambitious tunnel level presence along the lines of the CenterPoint and Reliant Energy Buildings with a large food court or open hotel lobby style public area. Of course future work in these areas may be put on the back burner but the fact that EP is going ahead with the current work is a positive sign to its people and the community.
  7. This past year the El Paso Corp has begun renovation work on its downtown Houston headquarters. The building was completed in 1963 and was the first of the many steel highrises and skyscrapers to come along later. Until recently, it was known as the Tenneco building. EP companies are the sole tenant. The building has not been remodeled or had a major upgrade since it's completion and it was decided that a renovation was needed. The building's utilities are being replaced and upgraded floor by floor and special attention is being made to make the new renovation "green" and LEED compliant. Fire sprinklers are being added after so many years. So far several newly renovated floors have opened and they are very impressive. Perimeter enclosed offices have been done away with and moved in and replaced with glass walls leaving an open aisle all around the perimeter of the floor. The new space is bright and airy with natural light. All new offices and cubicles have been brought in with wood accents and frosted glass. Office doors are glass and slide on tracks. Many people comment that the overall look is reminiscent of IKEA style. Each floor has its own new common area in the central elevator lobby now featuring a coffee and kitchen area with stainless steel appliances, refrigerators and large flat screen monitors. Restaraunt style seating areas and pub height tables give workers a casual place to meet and have lunch. At each elevator lobby a large floor to ceiling size blow up of a black and white photo from the company's history makes an interesting detail and gives workers a sense of history and appreciation of the hard work from before the modern computer age. In two opposite corners of each new floor are casual seeting and meeting lounge style areas with whiteboard walls and comfortable chairs. These areas look out on the downtown view. Several new conference rooms have also been included in the new floor plans. This renovation will take place over the course of the next several years and tentative plans include a remodeling of the tunnel area and the ground floor, exterior and 1st floor lobby. The large two story windows on the second floor that were damaged during Hurricane Ike were temporarily repaired and will be replaced later. They are very expensive and take several months to get. Hopefully the renovations will be completed and EP will have a new headquarters that will be the envy of downtown.
  8. Anyone know the latest news on this project? I'm assuming its been put on hold due to the current economic climate. I was walking around looking at this building the other day and was thinking if I had fantasy money it would be a great place to buy and remodel and build some sort of wedding chapel and reception hall with a large ballroom and suites etc. You could turn the top floors into apartments. Just some lunchtime day dreaming...
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