YMCA Downtown At 1600 Louisiana St.

[infinite_jim]

It's really remarkable how much visual cohesion is in this place now that the old brown bldg is gone. It was a lost cause the moment the Humble tower garage was designed.

To the south it's flat opennes is juxaposed by the spectacular rise of the monumental vertical scale of the Kellog tower, to the west the pooling steps of the Continental tower bleed towards it beset upon it's modest illsion of an octagonal tower, and to north the the Chevron tower's existing build outs have now become placeholders framing the openness. Across the street, the oldest neighbor, the Exxon Garage looks less tarnished. It's terrazzo and mesh panels now find common architectural language with it's other modern neighbor's application and joinery of sterotomic and techtonic materials.

This potential high-rise is going to be a very, very nice centerpiece(maybe even trophy) regarding it's site and presumably a hidden jewel amongst flanking giants. I foresee another tower like the Chevron tower (which itself is a architectural blend of 1400 Smith and the Exxon Tower), there's just too many good looking neighbors to not try and blend in.

Also in a later post I'll contend with those who can't see the forest for the trees in regards to the new YMCA design.

Edited September 27, 2011 by infinite_jim

[DrLan34]

A guy from Chevron told me last night that they might put a midrise at this site to host the Chevron executives.

i heard from another chevron employee today that they already have plans to expand on this lot.

[infinite_jim]

[lockmat]

I think he is saying he is spot on about this quote:

This potential high-rise is going to be a very, very nice centerpiece(maybe even trophy) regarding it's site and presumably a hidden jewel amongst flanking giants. I foresee another tower like the Chevron tower (which itself is a architectural blend of 1400 Smith and the Exxon Tower), there's just too many good looking neighbors to not try and blend in.

Put it together with this quote from swtsig, and we have a "supertall" coming to this location.

depends on your definition of "supertall"

http://www.houstonar...in/#entry413755

edit: 1600 Louisiana - LYONTREE EQUITY EXCHANGE- HCAD info http://hcad.org/records/details.asp?crypt=%94%9A%B0%94%BFg%84%8D%85zhg%8El%87tXwYW%9E%99%A2%D3%89%95%C2e%7CU%8A%7E%86%C0%AB%A8%AD%86%5E&bld=1&tab=2

Edited December 19, 2012 by lockmat

[Nate99]

edit: 1600 Louisiana - LYONTREE EQUITY EXCHANGE- HCAD info http://hcad.org/reco...��^&bld=1&tab=2

Wow, so that's what a $1.5 million lawn looks like.

Maybe the "improvements" are underground?

[fatesdisastr]

Wow, so that's what a $1.5 million lawn looks like.

I may just be half hispanic mexican, but that sure is a sexy lawn

[lockmat]

Chevron is moving 800 employees to Houston. The article says that they will move to existing facilities. Do they really have that much space for 800 employees? Could a new building be in the works???

http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/12/20/chevron-moving-800-upstream-jobs-to-houston/

[lockmat]

Chevron is moving 800 employees to Houston. The article says that they will move to existing facilities. Do they really have that much space for 800 employees? Could a new building be in the works???

http://fuelfix.com/b...obs-to-houston/

Anyone know, on average, how many employees 25,000 square feet can house? 100?

[lockmat]

Anyone know, on average, how many employees 25,000 square feet can house? 100?

Coy Davidson said 25k can hold about 100-150 people, so it seems unlikely Chevron would build a downtown midrise. But where are they going to stick 800 people?

https://twitter.com/...988129680502784

Also, the report linked below says there are not any proposed office towers.

http://goo.gl/2llJr

edit: Coy followed up to me downplaying possibility of building a new tower

@goingupcity with the move of staff here, plus space leased at Cullen Center and future projected needs another tower wouldn't be outlandish

https://twitter.com/...779766555500544

edit #2: I was thinking, Chevron could easily take up 8 floors at Allen Center. There will be the equivalent of about 40 stories available once all the tenants who have announced plans to leave actually vacate.

Edited December 28, 2012 by lockmat

[KinkaidAlum]

If Chevron does take over the space formerly occupied by Continental, Devon, and Hess, then that still leaves downtown with a huge problem... no space.

There's no space for a large relocation or expansion IF Chevron takes over 400,000+ square feet in Allen Center.

[lockmat]

If Chevron does take over the space formerly occupied by Continental, Devon, and Hess, then that still leaves downtown with a huge problem... no space.

There's no space for a large relocation or expansion IF Chevron takes over 400,000+ square feet in Allen Center.

I'm not being sarcastic at all, but what is considered large?

[swtsig]

I'm not being sarcastic at all, but what is considered large?

250k+ or so

[j_cuevas713]

Wow thats a prime lot for a major skyscraper!