Texas Tower (Block 58) by Hines, 47-Story Office Tower

[Highrise Tower 33231]

Texas Tower - Level 40

https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/TABS/Search/Project/TABS2021001608

 

[Urbannizer 44117]

Houston Pano by Carlos Anez, on Flickr

[samagon 3252]

this building doesn't really do so much for the skyline, but the way it works locally, with the angles, really make it take over that area.

Edited September 30, 2020 by samagon

[pacarlson 3]

Looks like it's a bit above 500' now.

[kbates2 1340]

1 hour ago, samagon said:

this building doesn't really do so much for the skyline, but the way it works locally, with the angles, really make it take over that area.

 

I still think that it will do a good deal for extending the width of the skyline from that angle.  Remember, when you look at that picture, that it will be about the exact same height as the old Continental building.

[mls1202 431]

On 9/29/2020 at 10:56 PM, Urbannizer said:

Houston Pano by Carlos Anez, on Flickr

This angle of downtown alway belies just how dense it really is.  The location of the tallest towers at the northwestern edge obscure all the shorter buildings immediately behind them.  It's amazing to me how different our downtown looks from the north, and south and east!

[dbigtex56 1211]

1 hour ago, mls1202 said:

On 9/29/2020 at 10:56 PM, Urbannizer said:

 

This angle of downtown alway belies just how dense it really is.  The location of the tallest towers at the northwestern edge obscure all the shorter buildings immediately behind them.  It's amazing to me how different our downtown looks from the north, and south and east!

That's a downside of the street grid system layout. The buildings alternately obstruct each other and leave gaps due to the sight lines.
One of the reasons Lower Manhattan's skyline is so impressive is that it was constructed within a disorderly jumble of streets. Almost every gap is filled and every building is visible 

[shasta 337]

3 hours ago, dbigtex56 said:

That's a downside of the street grid system layout. The buildings alternately obstruct each other and leave gaps due to the sight lines.
One of the reasons Lower Manhattan's skyline is so impressive is that it was constructed within a disorderly jumble of streets. Almost every gap is filled and every building is visible 

2 things here..

 

The only part of the New York that is jumbled is the old Dutch and English parts at the tip of Manhattan. The rest is as rigid of a grid as you get, thanks to the 1812 plan. We've all seen the photos of the 'Canyons and Valleys" of Manhattan streets.

 

On Houston, it's a matter of perspective- Views from 288, 45, and 59 have views that are not straight on.

[enriquewx91 852]

5 hours ago, mls1202 said:

This angle of downtown alway belies just how dense it really is.  The location of the tallest towers at the northwestern edge obscure all the shorter buildings immediately behind them.  It's amazing to me how different our downtown looks from the north, and south and east!

Honestly hate this view, my least favorite in the city. Not sure why people are so in love with it.

 

The view from 45N, 288/59 interchange and I10E are the best imo

[Naviguessor 2184]

Shasta. Generally speaking, the tip of Manhattan is downtown. 

[Nate99 7729]

Elevator winches?

[H-Town Man 4989]

1 hour ago, shasta said:

2 things here..

 

The only part of the New York that is jumbled is the old Dutch and English parts at the tip of Manhattan. The rest is as rigid of a grid as you get, thanks to the 1812 plan. We've all seen the photos of the 'Canyons and Valleys" of Manhattan streets.

 

On Houston, it's a matter of perspective- Views from 288, 45, and 59 have views that are not straight on.

 

Lower Manhattan is the old Dutch streets. It had a magical skyline before they got rid of all the little old buildings along the docks and built a new generation of boxy glass skyscrapers that blocked the view of the 1920's skyscrapers.

 

[midtowndweller 278]

Best view hands down of Houston’s SKYLINES is that 610 Eastbound–>288 northbound overpass! The colors from the med center buildings glowing in the foreground, downtown looming in the distance and the uptown skyline watching over. 

Edited October 2, 2020 by midtowndweller

[asubrt 754]

7 minutes ago, midtowndweller said:

Best view hands down of Houston’s SKYLINES is that 610 Eastbound–>288 northbound overpass! The colors from the mid center buildings glowing in the foreground, downtown looming in the distance and the uptown skyline watching over. 

 

288 Northbound -> 69 Southbound is pretty awesome as well, a little bit closer in version of that same view (minus the med center)

[kennyc05 299]

11 hours ago, midtowndweller said:

Best view hands down of Houston’s SKYLINES is that 610 Eastbound–>288 northbound overpass! The colors from the med center buildings glowing in the foreground, downtown looming in the distance and the uptown skyline watching over. 

 

11 hours ago, asubrt said:

 

288 Northbound -> 69 Southbound is pretty awesome as well, a little bit closer in version of that same view (minus the med center)

Once the new 610 to 59 north ramp opens by the Galleria area that'll be one hell of a view!

[por favor gracias 627]

The new 45 Northbound to 59/288 Southbound ramp is pretty awesome too, and it's also elevated for a good while before you get to the ramp itself.

 

The 610 Ship Channel bridge also has a great view.

[Highrise Tower 33231]

22 hours ago, midtowndweller said:

Best view hands down of Houston’s SKYLINES is that 610 Eastbound–>288 northbound overpass! The colors from the med center buildings glowing in the foreground, downtown looming in the distance and the uptown skyline watching over. 

 

Did not know which Skyline Update thread to post this in.  I was at a complete stop on the 288 overpass so I took this photo.

 

Downtown, Midtown, and TMC Skyline.

 

Including Uptown.

[Highrise Tower 33231]

 

 

[wxman 883]

Where are we at on this building? How many more floors? I know it's early but it doesn't look as imposing as it does in some of the early renderings to me. Is it just me?

[TheSirDingle 1474]

1 hour ago, wxman said:

Where are we at on this building? How many more floors? I know it's early but it doesn't look as imposing as it does in some of the early renderings to me. Is it just me?

36 going onto 37? Looks like we have 11-10 more floors to go with this one, also a pretty good sized crown that will add to the imposing factor.  

Going off of this massing diagram from @blakevirgilio on page 16 of this thread. It looks like we have 180 more feet to go in terms of floors, and the crown adds an additional 35-45 ft to it?

 

Going off this it might as well be a 50 floor skyscraper. I think as a community we should include the crowns as part of the floor count. All we need to do is divide it by the average height of each floor and just like magic add these extra floors to the count. 

[Stone 257]

Yes, I’ve always considered this a solid 50-story tower. Not simply rounding up, rather, the specific design and height of the crown adds 3 stories to the 47.

 

Similarly, I consider 609 Main to be 50 stories with a total height of 53 stories (not the 48 office floors officially listed). Casual observers would never know the first 2 “floors” of the 5 story crown are only mechanical and unoccupied. 

Edited October 4, 2020 by Stone

[dbigtex56 1211]

On 10/1/2020 at 12:17 PM, shasta said:

 

The only part of the New York that is jumbled is the old Dutch and English parts at the tip of Manhattan.

Therefore, my use of the term "Lower Manhattan".

[adr 1909]

 

Good morning.

[midtowndweller 278]

Hard to tell from this image, but will there be some sort of lighting at the top and going down the sides? Also, I’m going to love the silhouette of this viewing from the west!

[ArtNsf 723]

this is going to be quite a handsome building and very noticeable in the downtown skyline.  they are building at break neck speed and it's starting to come together quickly now.  i can't wait to see the finished exterior with cool lighting on top and hopefully on the sides as well !

[midtowndweller 278]

Was coming from the SE today and tried to take a pic. This pic doesn’t do the view justice, but this will have a great impact on the skyline view from this part of town. (UC closer time the right of pic)

[Stone 257]

 

Edited October 10, 2020 by Stone

[cityliving 2584]

[Highrise Tower 33231]

 

 

[hindesky 46515]

[tigereye 1843]

On 7/19/2018 at 12:00 PM, Reporter said:

It grew since yesterday, got flatter and the building on block 42 appeared out of nowhere.

 

 

 

Yesterday

 

 

Today.

Texas Tower making the first of many appearances at Minute Maid Park. 

 

 

[Avossos 2281]

NVM

Edited October 12, 2020 by Avossos

[hindesky 46515]

From one of the tower crane operators

[hindesky 46515]

[Urbannizer 44117]

Soccer at Sundown by Russell Cardwell, on Flickr

[adr 1909]

[Highrise Tower 33231]

 

 

[hindesky 46515]

[Nate99 7729]

[cityliving 2584]

[MidCenturyMoldy 620]

OK. I'm just going to say it and suffer the consequences. I don't like that building. There. 

[KaisDad 4]

30 minutes ago, MidCenturyMoldy said:

OK. I'm just going to say it and suffer the consequences. I don't like that building. There. 

You will once it’s complete. 

[monarch 3793]

46 minutes ago, MidCenturyMoldy said:

OK. I'm just going to say it and suffer the consequences. I don't like that building. There. 

^^^ shoot the messenger!  there...

[Twinsanity02 1283]

56 minutes ago, MidCenturyMoldy said:

OK. I'm just going to say it and suffer the consequences. I don't like that building. There. 

No problem. Hopefully we are not into groupthink on HAIF. Just curious, why don't you?

[MidCenturyMoldy 620]

3 hours ago, Twinsanity02 said:

Just curious, why don't you?

I think it's mostly the boring glass curtain wall, especially on the parking garage. I must note that I haven't even been to Houston since the glazing started, so I haven't seen it in person. But I also don't like the top all that much and I don't like the entrance.

 

I'm not a big fan of 609 Main, either. Again, mostly because of the boring curtain wall. I LOVE the exterior of 811 Main (BG Group Place)...just not thrilled with the notch that makes it look like a giant BIC lighter.

Edited October 27, 2020 by MidCenturyMoldy

[tangledwoods 703]

I'll play this game:

If I was still a kid and my dad said he worked there, I would assume he had the most boring job in the world.  This might be the most vanilla ice cream Hines project I've seen.  The curtain wall is OKAY, the sky lobby bump outs are OKAY, the cool 1st floor carousel is OKAY.  For lack of a more clear criticism it feels like the building has no soul.  The garage podium topped mesh / tight louvers is particularly UGH BORING.

 

Its almost like someone took Transco Tower, made the floorplate more leasable, rotated the tower 45 deg off street grid, replaced the cool top with a reduced copy of the BHP crown and called it good.

 

I am sure the lobby will be very nice and the amenities will be to par with Hines typical class-a offerings, but there is nothing here that says WOW COOL.  At least the Skanska rectangle had the understory tunnel "COOL".

 

 

[Montrose1100 3714]

I think the reason people like it is because Houston has been spitting out the most monotonous structures... in a good project. When Hines gives us a unbalanced roof, or turning the tower base off the normal grid, we get super excited. It's all relative.

 

Majority of the buildings have been okay or decent. The rest are boring or ugly. There's nothing exciting, there's nothing that would make it to a coffee table book.

[dcdude 40]

I live in Austin and this one looks like everything that is going up here....Austin just gets excited when they get a tall building, they don't care what it looks like

[htine 11]

Living in Detroit has really put into perspective for me how bland a lot of the architecture in Houston is. Everything built is about maximizing profits and minimizing costs. None of these buildings are memorable, and they don't really add much to the character of the city. 

[TheSirDingle 1474]

On 10/27/2020 at 10:57 AM, Twinsanity02 said:

No problem. Hopefully we are not into groupthink on HAIF. Just curious, why don't you?

Damn now we're turning into negative groupthink. SOMEBODY PRESS THE REVERSE BUTTON THIS IS GETTIGN OUT OF HAND. Lol, good thing this forum rarely if ever turns into a hivemind like most forums (looking at you reddit). 

 

Personally, I like the design of this tower, it has pretty good interaction with the ground floor through well designed retail openings, and the crown gives a pretty unique rooftop not seen much in Texas. Overall, while it isn't the Neil Esperson Building, it's still better than the vast majority of high rises in Texas going up and existing. I think it's a good looking building, and adds a lot to the area. 

 

If we're going off the best looking high-rises going up I would have to say The Preston, or that 39 story tower going up on Post Oak. These 2 towers are just astounding. 

 

On 10/27/2020 at 5:19 PM, dcdude said:

I live in Austin and this one looks like everything that is going up here....Austin just gets excited when they get a tall building, they don't care what it looks like

Still better looking than most if not all of them though.