JPMorgan Chase Tower

[Greens!]

I was wondering if it is possible to go to the observation deck at the chase tower? Do they let people in there?

[Houstonian in Iraq]

I was wondering if it is possible to go to the observation deck at the chase tower? Do they let people in there?

Do you mean the sky lobby on the 60th floor. If so yeah it's open to the public.

[musicman]

Do you mean the sky lobby on the 60th floor. If so yeah it's open to the public.

only during business hrs though, so plan accordingly.

[Houstonian in Iraq]

I was going through a downtown website and found that Wells Fargo has a observation deck

Wells Fargo Plaza

1000 Louisiana

At 71 stories, Wells Fargo Plaza is the second tallest building in Houston, and the tallest all-glass-exterior building in the Western Hemisphere. Take an elevator up to the 58th floor to get a wonderful view of Houston.

Has anyone been there?

[musicman]

I was going through a downtown website and found that Wells Fargo has a observation deck

Has anyone been there?

I've been there a couple of times. It is a nice view, If the weather is clear, you'd be surprised at the view. I may be headed downtown later in the week, if i remember i'll take my camera.

[brijonmang]

what floor is the observation deck on in Wells Fargo?

[Houstonian in Iraq]

what floor is the observation deck on in Wells Fargo?

According to the downtown web site it's on the 58th floor

[Greens!]

Are there any other noteable buildings in Houston with observation rooms that are open to the public?

I went to the Chase Tower today and the views were awesome

[Montrose1100]

there use to be an observation deck on the top of the Exxon Building, but closed way before my time in 71 or 72. But knowing people in the Petroleum Club, you might be able to get up there. Anyhow, Mon-fri (business hours) the Chase Tower observation deck is open.

There are 2 in the Wells Fargo Plaza, one on the 59th and 58th floor, and 30 something.

[houstonfella]

And restaurants with views: the 43rd (Wedge Int'l Tower) and Plaza Club (50th Floor One Shell - membership I think). Of course the Hyatt's Spindletop but hemmed in by skyscrapers.

[sevfiv]

there are also some nice views from the roofs of parking garages as well as rooftops of buildings (if you know the right folks )

best part is, no glass when taking pictures

[Subdude]

there are also some nice views from the roofs of parking garages as well as rooftops of buildings (if you know the right folks )

best part is, no glass when taking pictures

Yeah, once I was able to get outside on the little balcony along the point at the top of the BOA. Awesome views from outside!

[editor]

And restaurants with views: the 43rd (Wedge Int'l Tower) and Plaza Club (50th Floor One Shell - membership I think). Of course the Hyatt's Spindletop but hemmed in by skyscrapers.

I took my wife to Spindletop for Valentine's Day a couple of years ago. Don't worry about it being hemmed in. At night the view is really dynamic and interesting.

[Trophy Property]

I took my wife to Spindletop for Valentine's Day a couple of years ago. Don't worry about it being hemmed in. At night the view is really dynamic and interesting.

I had the opportunity a few years back to hang out on the roof of the America Tower (AG Center). The building is only 40 some odd stories, but its location outside of Downtown allowed for 360 degrees views. It was a clear day and the views were amazing. I wish I would have had a camera.

[brijonmang]

Yes, definitely some sweet views from that building...i even like the allen parkway section down on the ground. its a nice area

[Trophy Property]

Yes, definitely some sweet views from that building...i even like the allen parkway section down on the ground. its a nice area

I agree. The complex itself is a mix of old buildings (Wortham Tower) dating from the 60's- 80's. The Life building in the back of the back of the complex was recently renovated and looks pretty cool from the inside (as Atrium buildings go). The real problem I see with that complex is the fact that AIG owns and occupies much of the real estate. They have put in way too many security measures and made it very difficult for visitors to enter the building. For a non downtown complex I think it is a pretty darn cool.

[Montrose1100]

I was reading the official website history of the tower and found some interesting things...

"The height of the Tower is just shy of three and one half-football fields, standing at 1,049 feet from ground level. The tower has 1.98 million square feet of gross building space."

Also, they have the 80 story urban legend... Which is not true.

The Building's Website

Edited July 26, 2006 by Montrose1100

[MexAmerican_Moose]

i thought the tower was around 1,005 ft or something like that

[Montrose1100]

i thought the tower was around 1,005 ft or something like that

1,002ft.

[GovernorAggie]

so where did the 1,049 ft come from??

[Montrose1100]

so where did the 1,049 ft come from??

I have no idea.

[ricco67]

While driving downtown, I noticed this:

Does this mean they're going to add floor to this or maybe set up a crane? I haven't seen any information on this at all.

[joshuajbp]

Anyone know why there are 2 cranes on top of Chase Tower downtown?

[Montrose1100]

[bach]

Per Hines, they're replacing the colling towers and window washing rig, and the equipment will probably be up there for another month.

[houstonmacbro]

Kinda off-topic, but did anyone notice some scafffolding cranes atop Chase tower yesterday? At least I think it's Chase (the old Texas Commerce building).

Wonder what they are up to? Building another floor?

*post moved to appropriate thread* dbigtex56

[LTAWACS]

Still boarded up. It's going to be weeks or months before the glass gets installed. Not sure about the observation deck.

[CoolBuddy06]

I have been lurking for the last few months and finally decided to introduce myself. I am a native and homesick Houstonian in the Hill Country (Kerrville).

Feel free to take a look at my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/30090334@N05/

Anyway, I will be coming home this weekend for the first time since Ike. My folks live on the west end of Galveston, so I will be helping them with some clean-up. I am also bringing my friend from California who has never been to Texas. I wanted to show her the sky lobby at Chase Tower but I am assuming it is still out of commission. Are the windows still boarded up? I haven't seen any recent pictures of "post-ike Houston." If the JPM tower is out, is the Wells Fargo observation deck open?

Any insight would be appreciated.

Welcome to HAIF. I'm sure your friend will still have fun with all the attractions around.

[Houston19514]

I have been lurking for the last few months and finally decided to introduce myself. I am a native and homesick Houstonian in the Hill Country (Kerrville).

Feel free to take a look at my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/30090334@N05/

Anyway, I will be coming home this weekend for the first time since Ike. My folks live on the west end of Galveston, so I will be helping them with some clean-up. I am also bringing my friend from California who has never been to Texas. I wanted to show her the sky lobby at Chase Tower but I am assuming it is still out of commission. Are the windows still boarded up? I haven't seen any recent pictures of "post-ike Houston." If the JPM tower is out, is the Wells Fargo observation deck open?

Any insight would be appreciated.

I am not absolutely certain, but I doubt if sky lobby windows were blown out. (1) The vast majority of the blown -out windows were on the east side of the building, while the sky lobby windows face south-ish. (2) The vast majority of the blown out windows were below the 45th floor. The sky lobby is at what, 60?

[Houstonian in Iraq]

I have been lurking for the last few months and finally decided to introduce myself. I am a native and homesick Houstonian in the Hill Country (Kerrville).

Feel free to take a look at my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/30090334@N05/

Anyway, I will be coming home this weekend for the first time since Ike. My folks live on the west end of Galveston, so I will be helping them with some clean-up. I am also bringing my friend from California who has never been to Texas. I wanted to show her the sky lobby at Chase Tower but I am assuming it is still out of commission. Are the windows still boarded up? I haven't seen any recent pictures of "post-ike Houston." If the JPM tower is out, is the Wells Fargo observation deck open?

Any insight would be appreciated.

Welcome to HAIF. I just got back into Houston last week. This is my first week back since the Hurricane. I had to step out of the country but was able to watch the coverage on Fox and CNN. A buddy of mine works at Chase tower and said he thinks the sky lobby is open. I have tomorrow off and one of my soldiers is in town from San Antonio, I was thinking about showing him the sky lobbies and tunnels.

[kylejack]

Here's a picture I took of it 2 days ago. As you can see its still in pretty rough shape, and prognosis negative on getting into the Sky Lobby. Even Wells Fargo still has some boarded windows.

[longcat]

I am not absolutely certain, but I doubt if sky lobby windows were blown out. (1) The vast majority of the blown -out windows were on the east side of the building, while the sky lobby windows face south-ish. (2) The vast majority of the blown out windows were below the 45th floor. The sky lobby is at what, 60?

I can see that side of the tower from my office window and the sky lobby windows appear to be undamaged. I have no idea if you can get up there though.

[editor]

Here's a picture I took of it 2 days ago. As you can see its still in pretty rough shape, and prognosis negative on getting into the Sky Lobby. Even Wells Fargo still has some boarded windows.

Wow. That's pretty telling that a month later it still looks the same. I bet the insides took a good thrashing.

[HtownWxBoy]

Windows are still boarded up but the observation deck is open... my family was in town this past weekend and I took them up there.

[kylejack]

Wow. That's pretty telling that a month later it still looks the same. I bet the insides took a good thrashing.

Yes, I was downtown right after the storm before they had a police presence and there was paperwork, staplers, and yes even desks strewn all over the street in a million pieces. That's probably why the police had the street blocked off for so long, because I'm sure there were all kinds of corporate secrets laying all over the streets.

[Houston19514]

Wow. That's pretty telling that a month later it still looks the same. I bet the insides took a good thrashing.

I was talking to the manager of one of the other skyscrapers downtown (one with relatively very few windows damaged). He said it will take a long time (many months) to get all the windows replaced. Just takes a while to get those windows and get them installed.

[new major on the block]

I have no idea.

Well someone needs to clear this up and find out officially. Obviously the owners of the building seem to think its as tall as they say it is as well as the rumer about it being originally planned as an 80 story tower and such about the FAA. It seems to be up in the air. Until someone shows concrete facts about this building, and i mean like actual survey measurements or the actual blueprints or even an interview with I.M. Pei, i have no clue who to believe. If Hines is saying it then im gonna start to believe their facts seeing as they own it.

[VicMan]

I think the reason why there is a disparity in the height measurements is because there are many ways to measure a building's height.

* Do you include only what is above ground, or do you include what is below ground too?

* Do you include the antenna in the measurements, or do you not include it?

* Do you measure up to the last floor with office, retail, and/or residential space, or do you go beyond that?

[editor]

JPMORGAN CHASE TOWER AWARDED LEED® GOLD

Tallest Building in Texas Goes Green

 

(HOUSTON) – The Houston office of Hines, the international real estate firm, announced today that JPMorgan Chase Tower has received Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® for Existing Buildings Rating System.

Chase Tower is a 1.6 million-square-foot, 75-story office building that was designed by I.M. Pei & Partners and was developed by Hines in 1982.  It remains the tallest building in Texas.

With a current ENERGY STAR rating of 91, the building is 46 percent more energy efficient and annually saves $1.48 per square foot in energy costs when compared to the national average office building.  This translates into estimated greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to removing 3,670 cars from the road.

Green features and programs include: reduction of indoor potable water use through low-flow fixtures; reclamation of non-potable water for irrigation; the use of energy efficient lighting with reduced mercury content; environmentally sensitive cleaning products; a comprehensive recycling and waste diversion program; green build-out guidelines for tenants; and the implementation of a comprehensive and ongoing retro-commissioning program, among other things.

Hines Senior Vice President John Mooz said, “JPMorgan Chase Tower represents Hines’ ninth LEED certification in Houston.  We are hearing a clear message from major tenants that LEED is a significant decision point in leasing.”

Hines worked closely with Kirksey’s EcoServices group, which played an instrumental role in managing the administrative aspects of the LEED certification process.

JPMorgan Chase Tower is 92 percent leased to a number of world-class companies, including: Andrews Kurth LLP; Cooper Industries; JPMorgan Chase & Co; LINN Energy; Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP; Morgan Stanley; Sanders Morris Harris Group; and Winstead PC, among others.  The property is owned by Texas Tower Limited and managed and leased by Hines.

 Globally Hines is responsible for 145 projects, representing more than 89 million square feet that have been certified, pre-certified or registered under the various LEED rating systems.  Hines was a founding member of the German Sustainable Building Council, and is active in the BRE Environmental Assessment Method program in the United Kingdom and the Haute Qualité Environnementale program in France.

In 2009 Hines was recognized by the EPA, for the second time, with the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award; Hines has 138 buildings, representing approximately 77 million square feet that have earned the ENERGY STAR label.  Twelve Hines development or redevelopment projects, representing more than six million square feet, have been designated as Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR.

Hines is a privately owned real estate firm involved in real estate investment, development and property management worldwide. The firm’s historical and current portfolio of projects that are underway, completed, acquired and managed for third parties includes 1,111 properties representing more than 449 million square feet of office, residential, mixed-use, industrial, hotel, medical and sports facilities, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments.  Hines has offices in more than 100 cities in 17 countries and controls assets valued at approximately $22.9 billion.  Visit www.hines.com for more information.  To learn more about sustainability at Hines, visit www.hines.com/sustainability

[Simbha]

I've seen these two figures posted for JPMorgan Chase in Downtown - 1,002 ft and 1,049 ft. Which is correct?

It's my understanding that the former is the height from street level and the latter is the height from the sunken plaza. If that's correct, then it seems to me that 1,049 ft is the right height for the building. I recognize that building heights are measured from 'street level' but what does that actually mean? I'm 6' tall. I don't suddenly become 5'8" just because I take one step down a set of stairs.

I'd like to better understand this from others who are better informed.

I suppose my interest is in the bragging rights: Do we have the tallest building in the US outside NYC and Chicago?

[Houston19514]

I've seen these two figures posted for JPMorgan Chase in Downtown - 1,002 ft and 1,049 ft. Which is correct?

It's my understanding that the former is the height from street level and the latter is the height from the sunken plaza. If that's correct, then it seems to me that 1,049 ft is the right height for the building. I recognize that building heights are measured from 'street level' but what does that actually mean? I'm 6' tall. I don't suddenly become 5'8" just because I take one step down a set of stairs.

I'd like to better understand this from others who are better informed.

I suppose my interest is in the bragging rights: Do we have the tallest building in the US outside NYC and Chicago?

What sunken plaza?

[RedScare]

What sunken plaza?

The one next to Wells Fargo Tower. Somehow, it makes JPMC Tower taller.

[TheNiche]

The one next to Wells Fargo Tower. Somehow, it makes JPMC Tower taller.

If you had watched the video, you'd know how to adjust for the distance of testicles from the base by now, and you'd know that it does not make the tower taller.

[Simbha]

What sunken plaza?

The one next to Wells Fargo Tower. Somehow, it makes JPMC Tower taller.

Oops, I meant lobby. I haven't been there in over a decade, but I believe there are several stories underground, no? Or, am I remembering things incorrectly?

Regardless, I've heard both figures for the tower. Which is correct?

[Montrose1100]

Both JP Chase tower & Wells Fargo have tunnel entrance lobbies. However, Wells Fargo has their sunken plaza outside the doors of the building as well as in the building.

[LTAWACS]

I believe it is 1,002 ft.

[towerjunkie]

I'm sure most of you know about the tallest tower in this magnificent city, right? Well I was just wondering. Would it be a good or bad thing if the JP Morgan Chase tower was redeveloped. Similar to the 800 Bell redevelopment and the Mickey Leland Building renovation. So would it be a good thing to renovate or just remain the same?

 

 

[jt16]

It's a pretty modern building as is. What exactly needs renovation?

[Subdude]

I'm not sure that redesign to update buildings is always a good idea.  In the 1960s a lot of buildings downtown were "modernized", and it mainly served to destroy their character and architectural integrity.  I would leave the Chase Tower be.

 

 

[Montrose1100]

Absolutely not. Renovate the interior if anything, but it has a timeless look, so NO!

Remember when they were going to redo the Sears Tower to be a lighter grey? Awful! There is no reason to redo a facade to update something. I know it's not a favorite building for most people but I absolutely love it's design and I think it's a very unique building.

It's color also blends nicely in our pallot of a skyline.

Erasing history is not cool, and maybe a 100 years from now, it will be as much appreciated as it should be. I mean, this building was the first +1,000ft skyscraper outside of New York and Chicago in the entire world when it was built. And do what with it? Turn it into another blue glass boring facade?