20sGirl Posted November 16, 2004 Share Posted November 16, 2004 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? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted November 16, 2004 Share Posted November 16, 2004 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! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted November 16, 2004 Share Posted November 16, 2004 Hmm. MY friend at MDACC was certain that they were still planning on demolishing it next year. I hope your friend is right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted November 16, 2004 Share Posted November 16, 2004 Is it that elderly building next to St. Lukes? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted November 16, 2004 Share Posted November 16, 2004 the last article i read was that the building was not suitable for retrofitting as per M. D. Anderson's needs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 Its like near ST Lukes. It is closer to the UT Nursing school, under const. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted November 30, 2004 Share Posted November 30, 2004 I hope it doesn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineda Posted November 30, 2004 Share Posted November 30, 2004 "I square danced on the Don Mahoney and Jeana Claire Show!"LOL, anyone remember Cadet Don and Kitterick on KTRK (Ch. 13)? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted November 30, 2004 Share Posted November 30, 2004 i drove past this building on sunday. my heart sank when i realized it is going to be gone soon. what a waste. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted November 30, 2004 Share Posted November 30, 2004 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted May 29, 2005 Share Posted May 29, 2005 LOL, anyone remember Cadet Don and Kitterick on KTRK (Ch. 13)?<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Whoa. thats from WAY back. my mom might have watched them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MZargarov Posted June 20, 2005 Share Posted June 20, 2005 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MZargarov Posted June 20, 2005 Share Posted June 20, 2005 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". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashikaga Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 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 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 it's on holcombe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashikaga Posted July 18, 2005 Share Posted July 18, 2005 "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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted July 18, 2005 Share Posted July 18, 2005 The neon sign is gone now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashikaga Posted July 18, 2005 Share Posted July 18, 2005 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 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasdago Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 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? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmer Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 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 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Are there any updates on the status of this building? I thought originally it was slated for demolition this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasdago Posted August 2, 2005 Share Posted August 2, 2005 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trophy Property Posted August 2, 2005 Share Posted August 2, 2005 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted August 2, 2005 Share Posted August 2, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashikaga Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 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? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Is it still up?<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Yep. Drove by last night. It needs a bath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 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... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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