Electric Living Center At 2121 West Loop S.

[Highrise Tower]

I was reading the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated October 18, 1967 and came across an overlooked Hines development.

Electric Living Center Will Give Many Answers To Homeowners

The Electric Living Center, a new facility to serve as a consumer information center on all phases of electrical usage in the home, is being built by Houston Lighting & Power Company.

The all-electric Center will be located on a 1.12-acre tract fronting on the east side of the West Loop (Highway 610) between San Felipe and Westheimer. Its proximity to the Southwest Freeway and Post Oak Interchange will make it easily reached from all parts of Houston.

It is being built to HL&PCO specifications by Gerald D. Hines Interests and will be the second building completed in the Smith Office Park complex. Architects are Neuhaus & Taylor, consulting engineers, Chenault & Brady. General contractor is Harvey Construction Company.

Floor-to-ceiling glass walls will form the 50-foot front and two 100-foot sides of the building, which will be heated and cooled by two electric heat pumps. Exposed structural material will be bush hammered concrete.

The appliance display area will be in the front (west end) of Center. The general public will be able to inquire here about electric cooking, heating and air conditioning, home and garden lighting, kitchen design and arrangement, proper home wiring and the use of small appliances.

The two electric kitchens--- One on the stage of the auditorium and the other at the rear of the building. --- Will be used for cooking demonstrations to groups meeting in the center.

A luminous ceiling will light both the auditorium and display area. The ceiling’s light intensity will be controlled by a dimmer switch making infinite variations possible between zero- and 200-foot candles.