Prudential Building At 1100 Holcombe Blvd.

[20sGirl]

A friend of mine who works at M.D. Anderson is positive that the Old Prudential building is not coming down. Has anyone heard any updates on this? Is it still slated for demolition and inferior building replacement?

[UrbaNerd]

I certainly hope that they do not tear that thing down!

It is a very distinct classic tower in the shiny new skyline of the TMC (esp with everything going up!)

Hopefully, this wont be destroyed like the Shamrock hotel!

[Subdude]

Hmm. MY friend at MDACC was certain that they were still planning on demolishing it next year. I hope your friend is right!

[Montrose1100]

Is it that elderly building next to St. Lukes?

[bachanon]

the last article i read was that the building was not suitable for retrofitting as per M. D. Anderson's needs.

[UrbaNerd]

Its like near ST Lukes. It is closer to the UT Nursing school, under const.

[Heights2Bastrop]

I hope it doesn

[pineda]

"I square danced on the Don Mahoney and Jeana Claire Show!"

LOL, anyone remember Cadet Don and Kitterick on KTRK (Ch. 13)?

[bachanon]

i drove past this building on sunday. my heart sank when i realized it is going to be gone soon. what a waste.

[Subdude]

I think it can be retrofitted for MDACC's needs, but it would cost more to preserve it. Terrible to lose a landmark like that.

[dbigtex56]

By sheer chance, I was in this building a couple of months ago.

Did you know that medical researchers sometimes randomly call people, and ask them to volunteer? It's true.

Someone called, and asked for my basic demographic information, then told me that they were looking for someone like myself, as a control for a cancer study. As luck would have it, their offices were located in the Prudential Building.

I was impressed by the circular area above the main lobby, and the mural - also the fountains in front of the building. The rest of the interior was unexceptional. If you stand back and look at it as a whole, it's a respectable (typical) mid-century high rise office building, and a pleasing design. I hope it's lovingly photographed before its inevitable demolition.

So far as it being some sort of iconic structure, I don't see it. While I'm sorry to see a nice example of mid-20th century architecture go down, it's not so exceptional to rate the outcry about its destruction IMO.

[bachanon]

thanks, dbigtex, for the insider. this certainly helps soften the blow. i'm all for new and better (errr, sustainable) architecture. at the same time, i adore the exterior of this building.

[zaphod]

LOL, anyone remember Cadet Don and Kitterick on KTRK (Ch. 13)?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whoa. thats from WAY back. my mom might have watched them.

[MZargarov]

I remember swimming at the pool of the Prudential. My step-father was an executive there. They had tennis courts and a lanai like the Shamrock.

Flagstones made a huge patio around the pool.

I also had a memory for so long, which I could not confirm. Looking out of a very high building, but seeing bushes and trees at the same height.

I went up in the Prudential a few years ago, and found the old boad room. It had planters outside the windows, which explained the memory.

I so hope, that IF the building is torn down, the wonderful curved mural from the lobby can be saved. And the fountain out front.

[MZargarov]

I was ON Cadet Don's show in about 1967. It was a birthday show, and he gave me a Cowboy hat. He had a puppet named Seymour, who lived in a flying saucer.

Later, I remember Cadet Don Davis. HE sings occasionally in Houston with a folk group called "Traveller".

[Guest danax]

So far as it being some sort of iconic structure, I don't see it. While I'm sorry to see a nice example of mid-20th century architecture go down, it's not so exceptional to rate the outcry about its destruction IMO.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, I know what you mean but it's just that those 50s-60s buildings were plain by design and as such, are all the more vulnerable to being erased from the short list of remaining high-rises from that era. It's like no one figures they're worth saving. It's about the best one in town, that I can think of anyway. As for the interior, it might have been remodeled several times or just be could be a plain-jane from birth as the Moderne style was giving way to something less exotic.

It could be said that any eventual extinction of that era building would be a form of stylistic natural selection based on general unpopularity that just happens to coincide with the buildings needing complete revamping due to age and with a city-wide redevelopment cycle.

[Ashikaga]

A friend of mine who works at M.D. Anderson is positive that the Old Prudential building is not coming down.  Has anyone heard any updates on this?  Is it still slated for demolition and inferior building replacement?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey, I can remember the Prudential Building back in the early 1960s. I can remember riding around at night and seeing the neon "rock" logo at the top of the building. What's the name of the street that it's on?

Chet Cuccia

[sevfiv]

it's on holcombe

[Ashikaga]

"I square danced on the Don Mahoney and Jeana Claire Show!"

LOL, anyone remember Cadet Don and Kitterick on KTRK (Ch. 13)?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As of today, does Prudential's neon "rock" still light up at night?

Chet Cuccia

[Subdude]

The neon sign is gone now.

[Ashikaga]

The neon sign is gone now.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, if the neon sign is gone, I guess it's just a matter of time until the rest of the building is gone, too.

Chet Cuccia

[texasdago]

Since saving this building is one of the key missions of Houston Mod, can we get this post back on the Houston Mod thread where it originated?

[marmer]

The neon sign left when Prudential did. It's never been there while MD Anderson had it. The absence of that sign doesn't mean anything about the future of the building.

Marty

[Subdude]

Are there any updates on the status of this building? I thought originally it was slated for demolition this year.

[texasdago]

I've heard rumors that b/c of the proximity of all the new construction, it would be extremely difficult to implode. That being the case, taking it apart piece-by-piece would be more expensive than renovating the building. So... that might be good news... no telling.

[Trophy Property]

I've heard rumors that b/c of the proximity of all the new construction, it would be extremely difficult to implode.  That being the case, taking it apart piece-by-piece would be more expensive than renovating the building.  So... that might be good news... no telling.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Anyone have a picture of this building. I am having a hard time visualizing it.

[Subdude]

[Ashikaga]

A friend of mine who works at M.D. Anderson is positive that the Old Prudential building is not coming down.  Has anyone heard any updates on this?  Is it still slated for demolition and inferior building replacement?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it still up?

[Guest danax]

Is it still up?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep. Drove by last night. It needs a bath.

[sevfiv]

it is still up and in use - the new tower(s) being built in the medical center, though, will be used to consolidate offices in leased space (apparently in prudential and nabisco buildings...).

it does need a bath, but i doubt it will get one before it is put to rest...

[nmainguy]

quote=pineda,Tuesday, November 30th, 2004 @ 2:51pm]

"I square danced on the Don Mahoney and Jeana Claire Show!"

LOL, anyone remember Cadet Don and Kitterick on KTRK (Ch. 13)?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't quite know how to seque from the Prudential to Don Mahoney but here goes.

Apparently Heights2Bastrop, pineda and myself have retained a few brain cells. I was on KiTiRiK's birthday carosel...get it KTRK? I remember cadet don too and seymore. Did you know Annette O'Toole got her start on Don Mahoney and Jean Claire's show? I always thought that Bunny Orsack aka Kitirik in the cat outfit was cool-skin tight one piece with fishnet stockings and black spiked heels...kinda sexey but I new I was gay when i developed a huge crusch on Cadet Don

Click here http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/4931/ki...cadetdon6ui.png

for a pic of the 2 of them together...[keep your paws off my man you mangy cat!!!]

[Ashikaga]

Do any of you out there "own a piece of the Rock?"

[gnu]

here is another old postcard of the prudential building with a different view show the "piece of the rock" sign on top.

[Ashikaga]

here is another old postcard of the prudential building with a different view show the "piece of the rock" sign on top.

This is the view that I remember of that building of back when I lived in Houston during the early 1960s. I can remember being at some amusement park and seeing "the rock" neon logo from the rides.

[NenaE]

I never knew that the Prudential Bldg. was the "first tall office building constructed outside downtown Houston". Sat on a 27 1/2 acre site, 18 stories. I can still picture the huge turquoise pool, looking down from an elevated office window, at night, many years ago...quote is from the book I'm reading right now...Ephemeral City, Cite Looks at Houston

[20sGirl]

Unfortunately, they filled that pool in so it's just a plain old patio now. I was in that building last night and it's not so bad inside. Yeah, it's old but there are some really nice curved wood walls in the lobby. It also has a circular open balcony overlooking the first floor. The big mural is very ugly IMO but I understand why people want to save it. There is lots of marble on the walls in the upper floors. I'm assuming they would salvage the marble at least? And the windows actually have the capability of being opened. (MDA locks them so you can;t open them though).

The elevators look like they were once very nice but someone has put this horrible carpet on the walls. It looks like the elevator interior might have been wood before it was covered up by the ugly teal carpet. I'm wondering if the elevator floor was uncarpeted at one time too.

All in all, it's an old building but it could be nice if someone was willing to fix it up. I guess it's cheaper to just tear it down though. I can tell you, the new construction at MDACC looks very nice in the public spaces. But the offices are small, cheap and cramped. The office space is better in the Main Building- you have more room. I need to go back and take some pictures so I can remember this building. It's probably coming down once that new admin building is done on Fannin in 2011 or 2012 so there's still time.

[sevfiv]

Please take interior pictures if you can - and yeah, it's definitely cheaper for them to tear it down once they tell everyone it's a "sick" building

[20sGirl]

Please take interior pictures if you can - and yeah, it's definitely cheaper for them to tear it down once they tell everyone it's a "sick" building

Yeah. If it's a "sick" building, why are they making people work there for another 3-4 years. Wouldn't they be in a hurry to evacuate that building before the lawsuits start rolling in? Sick, my ass.

[gnu]

btw...found this in the google LIFE pics. It is a nice July 1952 picture overlooking the Shamrock Hotel pool. The Prudential Building is in the background with its large gibraltar logo.

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c?q=1...404d650f0_large

[Fringe]

I have a lot of memories about that building. UnoCal used to occupy a floor or two there in the 50's and 60's. My Dad worked there and I sometimes swam in the pool. Then in the 90's UTHSC had it's administrative offices there and I worked there for a couple of years. It was like stepping back into time. After UTHSC left MD Anderson took over. I can tell you that neither one of those institutions take very good care of their facilities so it probably is in real bad shape right now. I would hate to see it torn down for nostalgic reasons but I would understand someone not wanting to refurbish it.

[NenaE]

I have a lot of memories about that building. UnoCal used to occupy a floor or two there in the 50's and 60's. My Dad worked there and I sometimes swam in the pool. Then in the 90's UTHSC had it's administrative offices there and I worked there for a couple of years. It was like stepping back into time. After UTHSC left MD Anderson took over. I can tell you that neither one of those institutions take very good care of their facilities so it probably is in real bad shape right now. I would hate to see it torn down for nostalgic reasons but I would understand someone not wanting to refurbish it.

My dad worked for Unocal, as well (mentioned somewhere else, on HAIF). Remember going up there with him, one night...to see the pool from up high. It was in the 60's. I was young, but can remember how beautifully lit up it was.

[Fringe]

My dad worked for Unocal, as well (mentioned somewhere else, on HAIF). Remember going up there with him, one night...to see the pool from up high. It was in the 60's. I was young, but can remember how beautifully lit up it was.

If your dad worked for them a long time then I'm sure our dads knew each other. One of my childhood memories was spending time with the Unocal operator (I believe her name was LaVada or something like that). This was back in the day when they had huge switchboards and the operator was constantly plugging wires in and out to connect different parties. It was fascinating to watch. Kept me entertained for hours.

Edited November 26, 2008 by LunaticFringe

[NenaE]

If your dad worked for them a long time then I'm sure our dads knew each other. One of my childhood memories was spending time with the Unocal operator (I believe her name was LaVada or something like that). This was back in the day when they had huge switchboards and the operator was constantly plugging wires in and out to connect different parties. It was fascinating to watch. Kept me entertained for hours.

My dad "escorted" Unocal thru three bldg locations (that I know of), the Prudential Bldg., the Hwy 59 & 610 loop location (close to the Post), and the newest bldg in Sugarland, that stairstep one. So they probably did know each other, .

[Fringe]

My dad "escorted" Unocal thru three bldg locations (that I know of), the Prudential Bldg., the Hwy 59 & 610 loop location (close to the Post), and the newest bldg in Sugarland, that stairstep one. So they probably did know each other, .

Cool. My Dad retired right when they moved to Sugar Land. Only went there once. He was an engineer. Designed the Cerveza platform which at the time (20 years ago) was the deepest well in the Gulf and was one of UnoCals most productive wells.

[NenaE]

Cool. My Dad retired right when they moved to Sugar Land. Only went there once. He was an engineer. Designed the Cerveza platform which at the time (20 years ago) was the deepest well in the Gulf and was one of UnoCals most productive wells.

Wow, that's quite an accomplishment...Bravo, to your dad. When I would ask my dad what he did, he said he "explained to them how their money was spent", using figures with lots of zeros. HaHa..of course, it is an oil company. My dad also retired after so many yrs at the Sugarland office.

Guess the Prudential Bldg. is sitting idly by...til it's doomday...really hope this doesn't happen. Living in this city is pure torture, sometimes.

Edited December 27, 2008 by NenaE