houstonmacbro Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 It's officially for sale: See full article: http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/sto...tml?jst=b_ln_hl http://photohome.com/pictures/texas-pictures/houston/bank-of-america-1a.jpg 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 It looks like the Bank of America Center is for sale. I really like that building. For some reason I hope its name doesn't change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 It looks like the Bank of America Center is for sale. I really like that building. For some reason I hope its name doesn't change.It's been my favorite of the skyline ever since I was a kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 It looks like the Bank of America Center is for sale. I really like that building. For some reason I hope its name doesn't change.The name would probably remain the same unless the lead tenant changes. I assume the naming rights are written into their lease. The building has already gone through a number of name changes related to Bank of America predecessors. I believe it started out as the Republic Bank Building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgreco Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 as long as the lead tenant doesn't change it will stay the same, but who is selling the building exactly? Just the developers? since there is no sinage that saves money right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojeaux131 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I'm with you guys. As long as the name doesn't change, I won't be sad. This building is my favorite in the downtown skyline as well, and it's one of only a handful of Houston buildings that I've seen in books and on posters. Whoever buys it, it'll always be the "Cathedral of Commerce" in my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 merged topics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double L Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Besides the name change, there's a chance the new owner won't want to keep the building lit up or they may change the lighting. However the building is highly occupied so the chance will be slim unless it goes to a much smaller business. If Hines can keep it lit up I would imagine most owners could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmariar Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 The building has already gone through a number of name changes related to Bank of America predecessors.It was hard to keep up with the name changes. Half the time I still call it the NationsBank building. If something had to block the Pennzoil building in the north freeway view of the skyline (my favorite), at least it was another pretty building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I almost wished all building would get names that were not sponsored by a company name. It just sounds like an advetisment when they do it like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgreco Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 is there any price for name sponsor? or is it just the main tenant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmariar Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 is there any price for name sponsor? or is it just the main tenant?I think it's usually a right the owner reserves as inducement for a main tenant, and is treated as consideration in the terms of the lease (part of the value the tenant receives in exchange for its lease payments). I don't see any reason the naming rights couldn't be treated as a separate right, for sale to the highest bidder - even a non-tenant. I just don't think it happens that way in practice because not being able to offer naming rights would be a handicap in competition for large tenants.Calling them naming rights may be a bit misleading, too. I can't think of any multi-tenant building that has its "name" incorporated into its address, for example, the way some single-tenant buildings do. Which makes sense, as the smaller tenants probably wouldn't want another company's name in their address.Others probably know much more about this - I'm just guessing on some of this based on what I've seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fandangoeggplant Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Calling them naming rights may be a bit misleading, too. I can't think of any multi-tenant building that has its "name" incorporated into its address, for example, the way some single-tenant buildings do. Which makes sense, as the smaller tenants probably wouldn't want another company's name in their address.Others probably know much more about this - I'm just guessing on some of this based on what I've seen.Naming rights are pretty common even for multitenant buildings (of which most are)Heck, Chase tower will remain Chase tower even though Chase the tenant won't be there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas911 Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 Let's all pitch in and buy it!It will always be the Republic Bank Building to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/busine...te/5080018.htmlBank of America Center, an architectural icon on downtown's skyline, has been sold to Dallas-based Novati Group and an affiliate of the General Electric Pension Trust.The price was not disclosed, but an industry source pegged the sale at about $370 million."We're believers in Houston. We recognize it's the energy exploration capital of the world," said Jerry Karr, managing director of GE Asset Management, which advises the trust. "We believe it's truly coming into its own as one of the major business cities." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 They probably need to sell it to cover the loss on the stupid loan they just made to Countrywide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 They probably need to sell it to cover the loss on the stupid loan they just made to Countrywide. Bank of America is just a tenant. They have never owned the building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwilson Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 I want to buy it and change the name to "GWilson's Big Friggen Building with a Bunch of Points on Top", not to be out done by what I rename Transco when I buy it "GWilson's Big Friggen Building with a Light on Top".I'd be a skyscraper MOGUL!*cough*exhale*cough* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Bank of America is just a tenant. They have never owned the building. Interesting, I bet they wish they did now. LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted August 25, 2007 Share Posted August 25, 2007 Bank of America Center, an architectural icon on downtown's skyline, has been sold to Dallas-based Novati Group and an affiliate of the General Electric Pension Trust. So what's the new name going to be... Pension Place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwilson Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 So what's the new name going to be... Pension Place? No, that is the Enron building. Oh, wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 I want to buy it and change the name to "GWilson's Big Friggen Building with a Bunch of Points on Top", not to be out done by what I rename Transco when I buy it "GWilson's Big Friggen Building with a Light on Top".Somehow, as I was reading through your proposed renamings, when I came to "GWilson's Big Friggen...", describing Transco/Williams/whatever, I expected something more in line with the theory of towers as phallic symbols punctuating the name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 http://realtynewsreport.com/2017/09/25/remodelingexpansion-planned-at-iconic-bank-of-america-building-in-downtown/  HOUSTON –  (Realty News Report) – The old and almost forgotten Western Union building, which has been encased and hidden since the 56-story Bank of America Center tower was completed in 1983, is being opened up and redeveloped.  The renovation of the Western Union space will add some 35,000-SF to the Bank of  America skyscraper, providing room for a new white table-cloth restaurant and other lobby improvements, says Ken Moczulski, founder and CEO of Houston-based M-M Properties, which owns the building. The 1.2 million SF building, 700 Louisiana, was developed by Hines and designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee. Bank of America will be moving out of the building to occupy a new tower developed by Skanska.  HFF’s Cameron Cureton and John Brownlee recently arranged a refinancing of the building, which is near the Theater District. Bank of America and CBRE will be moving their offices out of the building, which is one of the most recognizable towers on the skyline. The tower has  ANR (TransCanada) as a main tenant.  The building, which has a red granite exterior, was known as RepublicBank Center when it opened. The Western Union building was retained and enveloped because it many electrical connections.  3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 This is exciting. A white-tablecloth restaurant opening out from that grand lobby could have a Four Seasons-like atmosphere. (Referring to the restaurant in the Seagram building.) Â That such an expensive project is being undertaken to create a restaurant space shows the new strength of downtown retail. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 (edited) This should be a cool project. I am interested to see what kind of restaurant they get. The lobby of that building is a great space and proximity to the theaters would keep them busy.  It would also be the closest place for an after work drink at the bar for a lot of office tower dwellers. Please commute responsibly.  Edited September 29, 2017 by Nate99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 Considering that the current BoA food options consist of a Murphy's Deli, a bagel shop, and prepackaged junk and bananas from the convenience store... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted December 27, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted December 27, 2017 http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Bank-of-America-Center-to-bring-hidden-building-12456235.php#photo-14755912 Â A curious corner of downtown's Bank of America Center will be transformed into a restaurant topped by a floor of new office or conference space that could open by the end of 2018. Â Houston-based M-M Properties tapped Sydness Architects to find a way to utilize the former Western Union building that was wrapped inside the bank tower when it was constructed in the early 1980s. That space, at Louisiana and Capitol, was completely hidden by a granite facade. It has not been used for sending telegrams for decades. Â Bringing the long-dormant Western Union building out into the open will be part of a $15 million project that could add up to 30,000 square feet to the 56-story skyscraper. Sydness said work is to begin in February or March. A second phase, which will add two floors of glass encased offices above Bank of America's expansive lobby along with tenant amenities in the lobby, will begin after the namesake tenant vacates in 2019. Â Â Â Â Current look: Â 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 It won’t look like a medieval fort when they are done.  Of course, without the arrow slits, it was kinda useless anyway.  So much for having those walls strong enough to ward off cannon fire.   The new place will actually look inviting from the outside! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 8 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said: It won’t look like a medieval fort when they are done.  Of course, without the arrow slits, it was kinda useless anyway.  So much for having those walls strong enough to ward off cannon fire.   The new place will actually look inviting from the outside!  What's really needed is a portcullis and a moat. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 https://sydnessarchitects.com/project/700-louisiana/  700 Louisiana is a 54-story office tower that is an iconic building in Houston. Designed in 1983 by Johnson/Burgee Architects the tower included a podium that served as a large open banking hall for the building’s main tenant.  Sydness Architects was commissioned to add two new levels in the existing banking hall and create a restaurant in the adjacent quadrant’s two existing floor levels. The new 25,000 square feet of office and restaurant space will be enhanced by introducing new windows in the existing podium along the three streets.  The additional floors required adding new columns in the space, new stairs and elevators. Maintaining the design grammar that existed in the building was a primary objective of the design team. Jeff Sydness was a member of the original Johnson/Burgee design team for the building.     6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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