What's Going On Over At Exxon?

[HeightsGuy]

My office window looks out on this building, and I just noticed that construction elevators and curtains are going up around the 1st few floors.

Does anyone know the details? Is it cosmetic, or are they going to put a new skin on the place?

Please say it won't be changed. Love it or hate it, I think it's a shining example of early 60's Houston.

[greystone08(returns)]

please! that building not only needs to be changed but could stand to be knocked down and rebuilt all over again from scratch. This building looks so rusty and dirty, it's nasty to look at.

[MidtownCoog]

Like they say, you can't judge a book by its cover, and you can't judge architecture solely from the outside.

I used to lunch in the basement in this building. I like it. And it's a functional design as well all know.

I have not worked downtown for close to month, but they always seemed to be doing work on the first few floors.

[jm1fd]

please! that building not only needs to be changed but could stand to be knocked down and rebuilt all over again from scratch. This building looks so rusty and dirty, it's nasty to look at.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What's wrong with a good cleaning/restoration?

[greystone08(returns)]

What's wrong with a good cleaning/restoration?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

that would even be good!! But SOMETHING does need to be done.

[Lowbrow]

Which Exxon building are we talking about? they have 4 campuses around town that I am aware of.

[houstonfella]

Which Exxon building are we talking about? they have 4 campuses around town that I am aware of.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think the downtown one. You know, a lot of people hate that building. But it takes me back to 1972 when I moved to Houston. That building was 44 stories tall and from a small town young man, the skyline was awesome and that building will always remind me of Houston. Something about it made the skyline, at that time, distinctive. At any rate, a nice makeover will be good.

[MidtownCoog]

There is only one Exxon Building in Houston. Some say it also used to be called the Humble Oil Building, but they are wrong.

This is the Humble Oil Building. Now a Courtyard by Marriott.

The Humble Oil & Refining Company commissioned its design in 1921 from the New York architectural firm of Clinton and Russell. With a 17-story tower added in the 1930s and subsequent additions, it reached its current 472,000 square foot form by the mid1940s.

Both beat the Exxon Building in NYC:

[Lowbrow]

Ah you all are talking skyscrapers... I should look at what sub-forum I am in.

My problem is that I never navigate the forums I just keep hitting "View New Posts". I'm so lazy.

[kjb434]

I love the Exxon building. This style is quite common in Brazil. I love the cage exterior. Something about the modern design just really appeals to me. I've seen many houses that use this type of architecture. Some or the Mods we talk about on this forum.

[LTAWACS]

Ah you all are talking skyscrapers... I should look at what sub-forum I am in.

My problem is that I never navigate the forums I just keep hitting "View New Posts". I'm so lazy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Join the club

[LTAWACS]

hey MidtownCoog, how tall is that exxon in NYC?

[YakuzaIce]

750 ft.

[Subdude]

Some say it also used to be called the Humble Oil Building, but they are wrong.

According to the 1972 AIA Houston Architectural Guide, what is now the Exxon Building on Bell was originally named the Humble Building. The Exxon name wasn't adopted until some time in the 1970s. The original Humble building on Main if I'm not mistaken was called The Main Building.

[texasdago]

The Exxon Building is a landmark building designed by Welton Becket & Associates of Los Angeles (also known for the Capital Records Building). Clean it up, sure... but don't damage it by messing with the design.

[HeightsGuy]

Wanted to bump this back to the top. Does anyone know what is being done? Looking out my window, the construction curtain is up on the first six floors after the lobby floor, and elevators go up to the 12th.

I'm still hoping for a good cleaning/restoration and not a wholesale change.

[texasboy]

i actually like this building as ugly as it is. they are actually building a condo tower in miami similar to it right now.

Here is a picture courtesy of MontroseNeighborhood at SSP.

[HeightsGuy]

Wow, what a picture. That captures the best angle to admire the structure. How someone can take the most basic of shapes and make it dazzling is still beyond me.

[RedScare]

Just got off the phone with my brother, who works for Exxon. The scaffolding is there for exterior maintenance, nothing more. No changes to the facade. He seemed to remember something about old caulking being replaced. This project has been going on for a few years, since they do a few floors at a time.

Exxon remodeled their foyer several years back, but that's as big as it got.

[texasboy]

Wow, what a picture. That captures the best angle to admire the structure. How someone can take the most basic of shapes and make it dazzling is still beyond me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah, MontroseNeighborhood is real good with doing that.

[Heights2Bastrop]

The Exxon Building most certainly was called the Humble (silent

[kjb434]

great to see them maintaining this building. Hope it lasts another 45 years

[MidtownCoog]

I walked over there this morning. Looks like scafolding and burlap for some window work.

FYI - The cafeteria in the basement of this place is pretty good.

[The Great Hizzy!]

^^^ Indeed it is, although I don't care for their salads. I've had better downtown.

[Gordon]

They are in the process of removing the original marble column covers and replacing them with a similar colored aluminum.

[MidtownCoog]

I was walking south this morning as the sun was hitting the top of this building.

I finally realized the top vertical pieces of metal are a slight faded green. A patina gone bad.

Fix that, and I bet this building will look 100% better.

Wonder what color they were to begin with?

[matth1231]

My mom still works here and I visit her often. The lobby and elevator banks are really nice (including the food court in the basement, with a nice piramid in an atrium kinda thing). They have recently added a class enclosure around the elevator banks for security reasons so you can't really appreaciate that. Inside the office could use some work. All of the walls are magnetic and an off white yellowish color.

I really appreaciate the uniquness of the building. The only thing that bothers me is how on the top floor (where the Petrolium Club is) how sometimes not all the drapes are clossed or opened at the same time. They either need to get rid of the drapes or tint the windows.

Don't forget this building had the first tunnel downtown. Tobad it still doesn't really go anywhere besides their garage...

[MidtownCoog]

I drove by yesterday and noticed they have named the project:

"The Facade Project". You can see the sign under the Milam walkway.

[nmainguy]

When we were kids our parents would take us to the top to the observatory. It had a cool machine that would mold a replica of the Humble Building with a slot on the top for a piggy bank. I think it cost 25 cents. My mom saved everything but I have yet to find it in any of her things.

[just a small point of useless trivia]

[dbigtex56]

They are in the process of removing the original marble column covers and replacing them with a similar colored aluminum.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Welcome to HAIF, Gordon.

Can anyone else confirm this? I've seen attempts to replace unstable marble cladding with metal before, and sometimes it ain't pretty.

Much more economical, I'm sure.

[jb4647]

If you're not aware, I posted photos of this building under construction here:

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...8&hl=Humble+Oil

My grandfather worked for Humble starting in 1927 until he died in Nov 1972, about a month after they changed to Exxon.

[ENGcons]

The Exxon building would cost more to renovate than for a new building due to abatement. Exxon owns the lot across the street and has a plan to build a new office, and tear down the original Exxon building to make way for a parkign garage. But like I said abatement before demolition would be incredibly costly.

[YakuzaIce]

The Exxon building would cost more to renovate than for a new building due to abatement. Exxon owns the lot across the street and has a plan to build a new office, and tear down the original Exxon building to make way for a parkign garage. But like I said abatement before demolition would be incredibly costly.

What is your source on this. Despite how I would like a new tower downtown, I hope this does not happen.

[MidtownCoog]

Hmmmm....

They are going to tear it down, so lets fix it up first.

Whatever.

[kjb434]

yeah,

If they are going to build a new tower, they wouldn't tear down the newly refurbised one. I would think they would want sell it off to a new other to fill it up with tennants are continue to own and make money of office rental.

[gto250us]

The Exxon Building most certainly was called the Humble (silent

[MarthaG]

When we were kids our parents would take us to the top to the observatory. It had a cool machine that would mold a replica of the Humble Building with a slot on the top for a piggy bank. I think it cost 25 cents. My mom saved everything but I have yet to find it in any of her things.

[just a small point of useless trivia]

I remember this. It was light green in color. It was a real treat to go to the observation level. At the time it was the tallest building in the city. If I remember correctly, you had to change elevators to get to the top.

I hope they restore this building.. it would be a shame to tear it down.

[Houston19514]

The "H" is silent only if you want to sound like a Texan with a corndog stuck in your throat.

... or if you want to pronounce it correctly

[nmainguy]

... or if you want to pronounce it correctly

Good one, Houston19514

One of the main problems with the Humble/Exxon Building is the columns are on 10' centers in both directions. If you gutted the building so you could actually see the structure, it would look like a forest of columns-which it is. Very hard to lease out space like that when there is better empty space available. Try laying out office space in a forest of columns...it's a cluster @#*%.

[kjb434]

I guess that what you get with the international style of architecture.

I'm think you can have an office space with few walls (open concept). Of course this doesn't work for all business.

How are the office currently in the building for Exxon? It must be a little functional, but I guess they dont' have any large rooms though.

[Houston19514]

With columns every ten feet, I guess it wouldn't make a very good candidate for condo conversion either.

[ENGcons]

I guess you should actually read my post before responding. I said Exxon has a plan for a new tower, HOWEVER, due to abatement issues it costs too much to tear down the old tower for the planned parking garage that is designed to go in the place where the Exxon building stands. And as for revealing a source you have to be nuts. This might be an anymous board but iam not selling out a source, which should tell you I didn't pick this up out of the newspaper.

[nmainguy]

I guess you should actually read my post before responding. I said Exxon has a plan for a new tower, HOWEVER, due to abatement issues it costs too much to tear down the old tower for the planned parking garage that is designed to go in the place where the Exxon building stands. And as for revealing a source you have to be nuts. This might be an anymous board but iam not selling out a source, which should tell you I didn't pick this up out of the newspaper.

Not sure who you are responding to.

I read your post.

I read them all.

As far as you having a secret "source"...well, we've all heard that one before.

[Montrose1100]

It use to be Humble, when my father use to work for Dresser (Which is now the Kellog Tower), The company (forgot the name) built the (what is now) The Exxon Building, was a customer of Dresser. Then, there were planning to build the Dresser (Kellog) Tower taller, but the company decided not to out do there customer, feering they would lose there client. And after work, they all went down to the Y.

the good ole' days!

[ENGcons]

My sources are not "seceret", this is not spy games or something. It is just these are people, who I have professional relationships with, I refuse to give out a company name, or a persons name for information I have been privilidged to. Plus, you never know who else reads this board.

And I was responding to midtown whoever his name is for snubbing my comments on the issue.

[Montrose1100]

I doubt they would tear down the Standing Exxon Building, thats just ludacris, its too tall of a building, and too important to the 60s Houston.

[gto250us]

I guess you should actually read my post before responding. I said Exxon has a plan for a new tower, HOWEVER, due to abatement issues it costs too much to tear down the old tower for the planned parking garage that is designed to go in the place where the Exxon building stands. And as for revealing a source you have to be nuts. This might be an anymous board but iam not selling out a source, which should tell you I didn't pick this up out of the newspaper.

Would you go to jail to protect your source? Seems to be popular thing to do these days.

[YakuzaIce]

As of 10-23

[Montrose1100]

Maybe there changing the window pannels? or painting perhaps?

edit: Asbestos?

Edited October 31, 2005 by Montrose1100

[jmancuso]

this isn't new york city where real-estate is that much in demand and exhausted where you could justify imploding a 600' building in favor of a newer one. houston's downtown still has more surface lots than buildings.