Hess Tower: Office Skyscraper At 1501 McKinney St.

[The Great Hizzy!]

http://www.discoverytowerhouston.com/image...ry/Render_5.jpg

Here's an outstanding shot. With the garage, you get two blocks knocked off with one project. Combine that with Disco G and OOP and that's a lot of real estate transformed in what used to be a dormant part of downtown.

Now I look for someone to come along to rehab the old Days Inn on the south end to help spur redevelopment own there. Once upon a time, that looked like it might have been an Ed Wulfe special but alas...

Edited June 19, 2008 by The Great Hizzy!

[Ducks]

http://www.discoverytowerhouston.com/image...ry/Render_5.jpg

Here's an outstanding shot. With the garage, you get two blocks knocked off with one project. Combine that with Disco G and OOP and that's a lot of real estate transformed in what used to be a dormant part of downtown.

Now I look for someone to come along to rehab the old Days Inn on the south end to help spur redevelopment own there. Once upon a time, that looked like it might have been an Ed Wulfe special but alas...

If they were going to show Discover finished, they could have finished the apartment complex across from 5HC too.

[roadrunner]

I thought there was going to be a restaurant at ground floor.

[roadrunner]

Nevermind, just read the brochure.

2 Stories, 16,169 ft of rentable retail space at street and mezzanine level including a 4 star destination restaurant.

I'm guessing the restaurant will be on that overhang thing, which will probably provide an excellent view of the park. This is really an exciting building.

[strickn]

CB Richard Ellis webpage still has the building 100% unleased.

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/Looplink/Profi...7&stid=cbre

[lockmat]

http://www.discoverytowerhouston.com/image...ry/Render_5.jpg

Here's an outstanding shot. With the garage, you get two blocks knocked off with one project. Combine that with Disco G and OOP and that's a lot of real estate transformed in what used to be a dormant part of downtown.

The parking garage has ivy on the east side.

It doesn't take up the entire lot either. There's space left over on the east side. What can/will they do with the rest of it?

Also, the north side of the building is pretty different from the south side.

Edited June 20, 2008 by lockmat

[MyEvilTwin]

These new renderings are nice. Earlier on I think someone (Trae?) mentioned that it would have been better had they designed the building to follow the curve of McKinney Street. At the time I agreed -- but now that I see these renderings I'm kind of liking the fact that by setting it back from the street they essentially extended the park a little further. Between that, the wind turbines, the LEED certification, and the ivy-covered parking garage, they do seem to be making a pretty comprehensive effort to tie the building into its Disco Green surroundings.

[Daniepwils]

I like the fact that is won't destroy my view of the park from 5 Houston!

[swtsig]

These new renderings are nice. Earlier on I think someone (Trae?) mentioned that it would have been better had they designed the building to follow the curve of McKinney Street. At the time I agreed -- but now that I see these renderings I'm kind of liking the fact that by setting it back from the street they essentially extended the park a little further. Between that, the wind turbines, the LEED certification, and the ivy-covered parking garage, they do seem to be making a pretty comprehensive effort to tie the building into its Disco Green surroundings.

the plan was to completely blur the line between where the park ends and where discovery tower begins... they're following the same features and landscape architecture to invite the park into discovery tower and vice versa. i think they're doing a tremendous job.

[GovernorAggie]

The rendering may be a little old, but I think it would be cool to have the backside (northern face) of the building up here on HAIF for everyone. The only problem is that I can't upload the pic at the moment, but here's their brocure if someone wants to.

It's worth a look!

http://www.discoverytowerhouston.com/disco...er_brochure.pdf

The north-facing side is on page 14 of 15.

Like I said, it's an older image, but I think it gives a good idea of what the "other" side of the building will look like.

[citizen4rmptown]

sorry for asking, but has anybody taken recent,and i mean, RECENT pictures of this

I would like to see if it has gotten above ground yet

[ricco67]

sorry for asking, but has anybody taken recent,and i mean, RECENT pictures of this

I would like to see if it has gotten above ground yet

not yet, I drove by 5 or 6 days ago. It'll probably be a few more weeks at least before it has an elevation.

[ChannelTwoNews]

Here's a shot of activity in the pit from a few days ago. They're filling in the perimiter wall for the parking garage.

They've also started placing large advertisements on several sides of the site featuring sizeable versions of the renderings shown previously.

Edited July 22, 2008 by ChannelTwoNews

[citizen4rmptown]

yeah, saw the pit up close on saturday..

[ChannelTwoNews]

Overhead view from 5HC taken this afternoon...

[HtownWxBoy]

Overhead view from 5HC taken this afternoon...

Great update... it will be rising before we know it. They definitely need a tower on the opposite lot across from Discovery Green... it will provide more shade.

[ChannelTwoNews]

Couple of snapshots from yesterday...

[infinite_jim]

oops forgot I took a couple flix from the night pour

this from 6-7-08

[citizen4rmptown]

thanks for the photo updates, guys

[ChannelTwoNews]

The website has been updated with a "Virtual Tour" video and a number of new renderings.

Among a few of the unseen...

These feature the Embassy Suites, second Convention Center Hotel and some of the proposed residential & hotel developments mentioned in the past

[lockmat]

The website has been updated with a "Virtual Tour" video and a number of new renderings.

Among a few of the unseen...

These feature the Embassy Suites, second Convention Center Hotel and some of the proposed residential & hotel developments mentioned in the past

Niiiiice I wonder if the renderings of the other buildings are very accurate. Probably not, but they look to be the gist of the plans.

I like this video better than MainPlace's too.

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...st&p=261650

Edited September 3, 2008 by lockmat

[citizen4rmptown]

well i enjoyed the renderings and the virtual tour ,which gave me no problems unlike mainplace

[Jax]

What is the other building on the North side of the park supposed to be beside Discover Tower? I don't think I've heard about that one.

[Houston19514]

What is the other building on the North side of the park supposed to be beside Discover Tower? I don't think I've heard about that one.

That is the proposed new convention center hotel

[The Great Hizzy!]

The second residential tower in the third image looks rather specific in design, don't you think? I wonder if that's a working design.

[TexasVines]

they should have put the parking garage where I circled in red and then where it is (circled in purple) could be for a building with the park view

the lot in red is way down in value now compared to the one circled in purple

also how can a building go where I colored in blue when there is already a large power/utility building there currently?

and a bit off subject, but does that utility plant need to be next to the Hilton Americas?

[Triton]

Did anyone else notice the Dynamo stadium in the background?

[Houston19514]

they should have put the parking garage where I circled in red and then where it is (circled in purple) could be for a building with the park view

the lot in red is way down in value now compared to the one circled in purple

also how can a building go where I colored in blue when there is already a large power/utility building there currently?

and a bit off subject, but does that utility plant need to be next to the Hilton Americas?

Look at your photo carefully and you will see the parking garage does not take up the whole block. Then if you look at the other photos you can see that there is some "plan" to place a residential tower on that parcel of land (the only portion of the block that would have any view of Discovery Green).

I suspect the "building" shown where you colored blue is just a representation of the power/utility building.

As to the utility plant next to the Hilton Americas "needs" to be there because it was there for years before the Hilton Americas was built. It would be very expensive to relocate. I agree it is an unfortunate location. Eventually, I would imagine, as we get rid of all of the blocks of surface parking, downtown land will be valuable enough to make it worth the expense of relocating the electric substation.

[wernicke]

Those renderings are pretty cool. Although I would like to see the Embassy Suites building be a little more substantial.

Too bad the credit crisis will prevent everything other than DT from getting off the ground for at least a few years. Unless those foreign investors step in... or maybe the City of Houston can make the second convention hotel happen if the Hilton Americas sells for $380 million.

I would love to see the convention hotel go with a design that is dramatic and modern.

[CHiPs]

Those renderings are pretty cool. Although I would like to see the Embassy Suites building be a little more substantial.

Too bad the credit crisis will prevent everything other than DT from getting off the ground for at least a few years. Unless those foreign investors step in... or maybe the City of Houston can make the second convention hotel happen if the Hilton Americas sells for $380 million.

I would love to see the convention hotel go with a design that is dramatic and modern.

Very nice renderings. I'm exited to see this side of DT coming alive.

[Trae]

Did anyone else notice the Dynamo stadium in the background?

I just did . Good looking out.

[citizen4rmptown]

i know its off topic but can anyone give me more info on the other buildings( not embassy suited or OPP)

[lockmat]

Corrected the official link in the wiki

[desirous]

The site flooded.

Edited September 14, 2008 by desirous

[fatesdisastr]

yeah...thats no bueno

[marc]

How delayed do you all think this and MainPlace will be due to the flooding?

m.

[Houston19514]

How delayed do you all think this and MainPlace will be due to the flooding?

m.

I would guess very little. Big holes in the ground tend to collect water when it rains. Nothing out of the ordinary.

[ChannelTwoNews]

How delayed do you all think this and MainPlace will be due to the flooding?

m.

Nil.

They were already back to work at the DT site at the time you were posting the message. Was actually at the fence around 10:30-11 ish that morning watching them ramp things back up. The water had been pumped out and the site was relatively dry.

Edited September 22, 2008 by ChannelTwoNews

[desirous]

Nothing important got flooded. They evacuated their equipment onto street level and tied it to the fence.

[marc]

^^^ It seems the architecture/developer gods have spoken. Full speed ahead.

m.

[KinkaidAlum]

Here's some good news out of the HBJ... Hess Corp is looking for 800,000 square feet. That's up from the 480,000 they currently occupy downtown. Sources point to Hess leasing the entire 871,000 square foot Discovery Tower project to claim all the parking.

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/sto.../20/story1.html

If you don't get the full article, the other good news is about Brookfield. It is stated that Devon Energy is the likely tenant for Brookfield's 5 Allen Center proposal meaning that one is still very likely. However, it also stated that the floor plates offered at 1500 Smith St by Brookfield were too small to meet Hess' needs. I guess 1500 Smith St is still being talked about?

[wernicke]

Pretty cool... Hess occupying the entire DT would seem to bode well for approval of new towers.

Oh, and DT is already on the 2nd above-ground level.

Edited October 17, 2008 by wernicke

[marc]

^^^^ All great news, but with this topsy turvy economy right now, will those projects be delayed or even scrapped?

m.

[HtownWxBoy]

Here's some good news out of the HBJ... Hess Corp is looking for 800,000 square feet. That's up from the 480,000 they currently occupy downtown. Sources point to Hess leasing the entire 871,000 square foot Discovery Tower project to claim all the parking.

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/sto.../20/story1.html

Wow that would be awsome... taking over an entire tower! Guess we will have to build yet another tower Downtown.

"Discovery Tower is designed to have 871,000 square feet of space upon completion. Hess is said to be considering leasing the extra 71,000 square feet to keep anyone else from taking space in the building being developed by Trammell Crow Co. next to Discovery Green park."

This line made me chuckle... ha ha... it's like... "This is OUR tower and you can't come in! ".

^^^^ All great news, but with this topsy turvy economy right now, will those projects be delayed or even scrapped?

m.

If there is demand for space they will want to build... securing financing would be the only tricky part w/ the way the economy is now.

[swtsig]

Here's some good news out of the HBJ... Hess Corp is looking for 800,000 square feet. That's up from the 480,000 they currently occupy downtown. Sources point to Hess leasing the entire 871,000 square foot Discovery Tower project to claim all the parking.

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/sto.../20/story1.html

If you don't get the full article, the other good news is about Brookfield. It is stated that Devon Energy is the likely tenant for Brookfield's 5 Allen Center proposal meaning that one is still very likely. However, it also stated that the floor plates offered at 1500 Smith St by Brookfield were too small to meet Hess' needs. I guess 1500 Smith St is still being talked about?

damn, that is big news.

and i should've already known that.

[citizen4rmptown]

Above Ground, well this project is going faster than i expected now there will be two above ground developments seen from Discovery Green..

[fatesdisastr]

i thought id supply a few new pictures for those who cant get out and see it

yeah this project is really gaining speed, before you know it well change the skyline again!

[citizen4rmptown]

i thought id supply a few new pictures for those who cant get out and see it

yeah this project is really gaining speed, before you know it well change the skyline again!

thanks for the update

[rsb320]

This building is really starting to rise. It's hard to tell because I can't see the bottom, but I would estimate that they are on the 4th above-ground floor. It's going to be cool to see it eclipse 5 Houston Center.

[ChannelTwoNews]

Looks like they're starting to dig up the parking lot for the garage that will be connected across Walker Street.

Along the promenade at Discovery Greeen, there are a series of infomational displays detailing the amount of green building and projects around the area including one dedicated solely to the building.