Name This Downtown Skyscraper

[editor]

I'm in the process of going through the 1,891 photographs I took over three days in Houston last month, and I've come across a downtown building I can't identify. Any help?

[memebag]

I name it "Reginald".

[RedScare]

It kinda looks like the City of Houston public works building.

No, it is in the 800 block of Main, directly south of the Gulf building.

Edited February 18, 2008 by RedScare

[HoustonArchiGirl]

Not sure but it looks like One Shell is behind it to the left, Pennzoil behind and Bank of America on the right. Is that correct?

I'm in the process of going through the 1,891 photographs I took over three days in Houston last month, and I've come across a downtown building I can't identify. Any help?

[ChannelTwoNews]

806 Main Street

I think it's one of the buildings whose original facades are trapped beneath the more modern one you see today.

[editor]

They should have given it a new name, too.

Thanks for the ID. I'm sure I'll have more to come!

[editor]

Doh! Here's another one. Taken from pretty much the same spot as the last one. That looks like the Binz building in the background.

[editor]

This one must make the graffiti kids drool.

[editor]

Here's another one. East side just past the GRB.

[RedScare]

Here's another one. East side just past the GRB.

Stanford lofts in the background. Ballpark Lofts in the foreground.

[sevfiv]

And it seems that Lofts at the Ballpark sits where the old Borden's facility used to be:

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...showtopic=14780

[editor]

OK, Smartypantses -- I have three left and I'm done. Two hard, one easy.

The first one is an antenna northeast of downtown. I think it's this one:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Houston,+TX+...mp;t=h&z=18

[TheNiche]

OK, Smartypantses -- I have three left and I'm done. Two hard, one easy.

1) KPRC or KTRH Antenna...can't remember which

2) KBR Headquarters

3) Minute Maid Park

[TheNiche]

KBR Headquarters? Really? I thought they were in the KBR Tower downtown.

Actually, according to Hoover's, you're correct. The other KBR Tower is downtown on Jefferson Street. I'm not sure specific function this one serves, but I do know that a whole lot of their corporate staff is employed there.

[editor]

Thanks for the tip on the tower. I looked it up and it's the KPRC(AM) tower.

http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapgen/gif...0.5&wid=0.5

I'm really surprised because it looks like a TV antenna. I've never seen an AM quite like that one, especially one that puts out a directional signal at night.

It turns out the KTRH tower is waaaaaay out of town.

http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapgen/gif...0.5&wid=0.5

Actually, according to Hoover's, you're correct. The other KBR Tower is downtown on Jefferson Street. I'm not sure specific function this one serves, but I do know that a whole lot of their corporate staff is employed there.

Do you know the address?

[TheNiche]

Do you know the address?

4100 Clinton Dr., Houston, TX 77020

601 Jefferson St., Houston, TX 77002

[KinkaidAlum]

The Niche is right, that is a 12 story tower that belongs to KBR. It is surrounded by industrial stuff that also belongs to KBR. It isn't really open to the public.

As an aside, I worked in the 806 Main Tower from 1993 to 1995. The building was about half full/empty depending upon your point of view and was as sketchy as the rest of Main St was back then. The urinal smell from 806 Main to the Courthouses was insane. This was back in the day when the Rice Hotel was essentially a toilet for the homeless and Main St. Square and the light rail weren't even remotely on the radar.

[TheNiche]

The Niche is right, that is a 12 story tower that belongs to KBR. It is surrounded by industrial stuff that also belongs to KBR. It isn't really open to the public.

Actually, part of the site is accessible to the public. Turn south off of Clinton Dr. onto Bayou St. and take it generally south to the banks of the Buffalo Bayou. There they have a picnic area with really nice views.

[cougarbrent]

here are a couple of images of the 806 Main building before the bad 1970's face lift.

[rsb320]

Man, they sure did ruin a really nice looking building.

[KinkaidAlum]

I worked in the 806 Building for two years. I would LOVE to see it restored!

[Subdude]

here are a couple of images of the 806 Main building before the bad 1970's face lift.

The face lift dates from earlier, about 1965. It is a shame they ruined such a beautiful building. You have to wonder, what were they thinking?

[H-Town Man]

That was Carter's Folly. I think it's real name was the Second National Bank Building. The top 6 stories were added after the first 16 were built.

The face lift dates from earlier, about 1965. It is a shame they ruined such a beautiful building. You have to wonder, what were they thinking?

They were thinking, "We know a lot of people are uneasy about this, but it's change! You've got to accept change! That old stuff looked good before, but the times have changed! Out with the old, in with the new!"

Similar lines have been spoken at many of history's stupider moments.

[Subdude]

They were thinking, "We know a lot of people are uneasy about this, but it's change! You've got to accept change! That old stuff looked good before, but the times have changed! Out with the old, in with the new!"

Similar lines have been spoken at many of history's stupider moments.

Boy, ain't that the truth.

A lot of buildings underwent "modernization" at about the same time. I suppose they thought that it would somehow revitalize downtown.

[MidtownCoog]

Speaking of change in buildings, check out the elevator banks in 1100 Louisana.

Everyday they cover-up wonderful stone walls with carpet in the name of progress.

All of the abovewill some day need a anthropological architect.

[cougarbrent]

I wonder if this building is still on the market. I was for sell for quite a while.

When I was in architecture school at UH, we had to field measure the entire building for a studio project.

It actually has access to the underground tunnel.

[brucesw]

OK, Smartypantses -- I have three left and I'm done. Two hard, one easy.

The first one is an antenna northeast of downtown. I think it's this one:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Houston,+TX+...mp;t=h&z=18

The Ennis Street tower is the primary site for KLTN-FM, 102.9, and the back-up antenna site for KHMX-FM, 96.5.

The site was originally used in late 1946 for the antenna for the first FM in Texas, Roy Hofheinz's KTHT-FM, 98.5, which broadcast from a temporary antenna atop the Southern Standard building downtown until moving here (and changing calls to KOPY). The station folded in 1950. I'm not sure what was on the site during the 50s - possibly KNUZ-AM (1230) but in 1960 when sister station KQUE-FM, 102.9, went on the air it used this site for decades.

The tower was originally much shorter. Engineers tell me it's possible some of the original structure is still in use. I think there are some pictures of the site in the Bailey collection.

The KTRH transmitter is near Devers; I'm not sure where KPRC is but it would have to be a multi-tower array I think.

Edited October 13, 2008 by brucesw

[agent21]

Speaking of change in buildings, check out the elevator banks in 1100 Louisana.

Everyday they cover-up wonderful stone walls with carpet in the name of progress.

All of the abovewill some day need a anthropological architect.

Kind of like your aunt's vinyl slipcovers..