Nate99 Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 They just shifted their construction walls around to reveal the escalators from the tunnel up to the lobby. They are reconfiguring the space in front of Schlotzky's now with new temporary walls up in front of it. The two Asian food places reopened with a more food court-esque design, perhaps they will be adding more slots in where that seating used to be. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 The plaid terrazzo really grew on me over the years. I can't figure out why they decided to draw an arc into it, much less an arc of white that is going to look really grubby really fast under all those dining tables. Dang kids. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonBoy Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 They should line all walls underground with faux brick. The whole system looks creepy and way too industrial. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) Had a day off of work last week and decided to get a closer look at the grand tempietto of the Esperson buildings. Here is what I saw: Old mail chute Gulf building These old loudspeakers surrounded the entire balcony perimeter. Anyone know what they were for? Nice views.. Beautiful urns... The grand tempietto... Hope you enjoyed! Edited September 20, 2014 by Howard Huge 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Old Air raid speakers maybe? You lucky dog! Thanks for sharing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Wow. Very cool. Who did you have to bribe to get out on the upper deck? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Old Air raid speakers maybe? You lucky dog! Thanks for sharing.Thats one theory!Maybe they played music? Or told the time? Or played bells like a clock tower?Id really like to know. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Wow. Very cool. Who did you have to bribe to get out on the upper deck?No one, I "snuck" up there!I got a workout too because the elevator will only take you to floor 17 unless you have a card key.Does anyone know what companies occupy the upper "access only" floors?Also, I know these buildings are haunted. I have to say I felt an EXTREMELY eerie presence walking in the staircases and hallways. There was no one else there but I definitely "felt" someone or something watching me. It was pretty scary. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Once upon a time, years ago, there was a small law firm on one of the way upper floors. IDK who is there now. As for the speakers, IIRC they once played some simulated carillon music on the hour. I think I even heard it recently, for the first time in forever. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 No one, I "snuck" up there! I got a workout too because the elevator will only take you to floor 17 unless you have a card key. Does anyone know what companies occupy the upper "access only" floors? Also, I know these buildings are haunted. I have to say I felt an EXTREMELY eerie presence walking in the staircases and hallways. There was no one else there but I definitely "felt" someone or something watching me. It was pretty scary. It was the NSA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 It was the NSA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txn4art Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Once upon a time, years ago, there was a small law firm on one of the way upper floors. IDK who is there now. As for the speakers, IIRC they once played some simulated carillon music on the hour. I think I even heard it recently, for the first time in forever. I'm amazed that it still exists! If memory serves correctly, there was the famous Westminster chime on the hour, followed by a repeated bell note striking the hour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I always thought that Westminster chime came from a church in downtown? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehoustonion Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Great pictures it's a beautiful building. Cannot believe you got up there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txn4art Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I always thought that Westminster chime came from a church in downtown?It's been decades since I've spent any time out-of-doors in downtown Houston and the sound of the chimes seem to float over high over the city. Back then, the only churches that were truly considered as being "downtown" were Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Christ Church Cathedral, First Methodist Church and Annunciation Catholic Church. For a variety of reasons, church bells usually don't sound every hour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little frau Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Thank you so much! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 FMC does the "Big Ben" tune every hour 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txn4art Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 (edited) FMC does the "Big Ben" tune every hour Wow...that must be a distraction during Sunday services, weddings, funerals, etc.! Edited September 23, 2014 by txn4art 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 FMC does the "Big Ben" tune every hourI knew it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 (edited) Shot on my phone yesterday at lunch. Sorry for the quality! Edited December 16, 2015 by samagon 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Are you sorry the quality is so good? Nice photo! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 https://www.arch-con.com/division/kelsey-seybold-esperson-clinic/ Quote Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in the Downtown Tunnels, beneath the Niels and Millie Esperson Buildings, will be the first primary care clinic located in the Tunnels. This will be the second Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston’s downtown area. Arch-Con will be renovating the 2,640-square-foot space, which includes a lobby, reception area, two exam rooms, a storage room, IT room, and an employee break room. The clinic will offer regular outpatient services. The location will give people who work west of Main Street easy access to a Kelsey-Seybold provider. Photo I took on Friday. 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 Kelsey-Seybold Clinic opens in downtown Houston tunnels https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2020/01/07/houston-health-care-company-opens-in-downtown.html Quote The Houston-based health care company has opened a new clinic in the downtown tunnel system, located beneath the Niels and Mellie Esperson Buildings. The 3,000-square-foot clinic opened earlier this month. It is located in the Esperson Tunnel at 815 Walker St., suite T-14A. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Downtown Esperson Buildings For Sale: Whisper Number – $65 Million https://realtynewsreport.com/2020/02/05/downtown-esperson-buildings-for-sale-whisper-number-65-million/ Quote HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Contrarian Capital’s historic Esperson Buildings in downtown Houston are expected to draw offers around $65 million in a new effort to sell the buildings, reports Real Estate Alert. JLL has the listing for the combined 509,000-SF properties. The property includes the 32-story Niels Esperson Building, built in 1927 at 808 Travis. It has been described as the “only full-blown example of Italian Renaissance architecture in downtown Houston.” The adjoining 19-story Mellie Esperson Building, 815 Walker, is an Art Deco office tower completed in 1941. The Esperson buildings, which are tunnel connected, are 66 percent leased. Late last year, it was announced the Martin, Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom law firm leased 42,000 SF in the Esperson project. Overall, the Houston office market has its soft spots, but new buildings have been leasing up briskly. The owners of older office buildings respond by spending millions to renovate. It’s all part of what real estate industry people call the “Flight to Quality.” Corporate tenants, which compete to attract the best employees (or talent), strive to have prime office buildings that have offerings that make outstanding workplaces. “We continue to see firms that value their employees as assets looking to relocate to new developments to ensure employee satisfaction, allowing these companies to attract and retain top employment talent,” said office leasing expert Chip Colvill of Colvill Office Properties, which leases a number of downtown buildings. “The new developments offer a higher quality environment, greater amenities, more efficient floor plans, better elevatoring, superior parking, etc. causing these new developments to be in high demand,” Colvill said in a recent interview. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 In the "yesterday's news tomorrow" column, Martin Disiere moved into the Neils around ten years ago. Perhaps the announcement was of their renewal. 🤷♂️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted March 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 1, 2020 11 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 That's the Gulf. 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specwriter Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 On 2/29/2020 at 8:00 PM, hindesky said: This image rocks! Thanks, hindesky. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted May 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 17, 2020 Sightseers take in the view from the tempietto atop the 32-story Niels Esperson Building, the tallest in Texas upon its completion, 1927. 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 That’s awesome. Anybody know a way to get up there to check it out? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.