American General Center
Encyclopedia
The American General Center is a complex of several office buildings in Neartown
Houston, Texas
located along Allen Parkway
. It is owned by AIG American General.
The America Tower, the tallest building is a 590 ft (180m) tall skyscraper. It was completed in 1983 and has 42 floors. It is the 18th tallest building in the city. It serves as the headquarters of Baker Hughes
. It served as the former headquarters of Continental Airlines
; it now houses AIG American General. The other buildings include the Life Building, the Wortham Tower, the Woodson Tower (a.k.a. the Liberty Tower), and the Riviana Building.
's headquarters were located at the America Tower, and would remain there until relocation to Downtown Houston
in 1998 and 1999. Stephen M. Wolf, the president of Continental said that the company moved its headquarters because Houston became the largest hub for Continental. During the existence of Texas Air Corporation in the 1980s, it had its headquarters in the America Tower. In September 1997 Continental announced that it would move its headquarters to Continental Center I
. Continental had occupied around 250000 square foot square feet in space in the America Tower before its lease expired in July 1998.
In 1998 Andersen Consulting, now Accenture
, announced that it would consolidate its existing Downtown Houston
and suburban workforces into 153000 square foot square feet in the America Tower, with more than 1,100 employees based in the space. Lynn Cook of the Houston Business Journal described this as "an astonishing number for the size of Andersen Consulting's lease." In 1999 Cushman & Wakefield, a realty firm, moved its Houston office into the America Tower from the Wells Fargo Tower of Four Oaks Place
in Uptown Houston
As of 1999 the building was 99% leased.
American General Life Insurance Company is headquartered in the Life Building.
The Consulate-General of Norway in Houston
was in Suite 1185 in the Riviana Building. It is now located in another location in Neartown.
Neartown Houston
Neartown is an area located in west-central Houston, Texas, United States and is one of the city's major cultural areas. Neartown is roughly bounded by U.S. Highway 59 to the south, Allen Parkway to the north, Bagby Street on the east, and Shepherd Drive to the west...
Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
located along Allen Parkway
Allen Parkway
Allen Parkway is an arterial road west of Downtown Houston, Texas. It has a distance of approximately 2.3 miles , running from Interstate 45 west to Shepherd Drive, where it becomes Kirby Drive...
. It is owned by AIG American General.
The America Tower, the tallest building is a 590 ft (180m) tall skyscraper. It was completed in 1983 and has 42 floors. It is the 18th tallest building in the city. It serves as the headquarters of Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes Baker Hughes provides the world's oil & gas industry with products and services for drilling, formation evaluation, completion, production and reservoir consulting. Baker Hughes operates in over 90 countries worldwide mainly based in countries with a mature petroleum industry as is...
. It served as the former headquarters of Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
; it now houses AIG American General. The other buildings include the Life Building, the Wortham Tower, the Woodson Tower (a.k.a. the Liberty Tower), and the Riviana Building.
History
On July 1, 1983 Continental AirlinesContinental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
's headquarters were located at the America Tower, and would remain there until relocation to Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
in 1998 and 1999. Stephen M. Wolf, the president of Continental said that the company moved its headquarters because Houston became the largest hub for Continental. During the existence of Texas Air Corporation in the 1980s, it had its headquarters in the America Tower. In September 1997 Continental announced that it would move its headquarters to Continental Center I
Continental Center I
Continental Center I is a 51-story, office tower in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States. The building houses offices of Continental Airlines, and it was Continental's headquarters prior to its merger with United Airlines. At one point it also served as the headquarters of ExpressJet Airlines...
. Continental had occupied around 250000 square foot square feet in space in the America Tower before its lease expired in July 1998.
In 1998 Andersen Consulting, now Accenture
Accenture
Accenture plc is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company headquartered in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is the largest consulting firm in the world and is a Fortune Global 500 company. As of September 2011, the company had more than 236,000 employees across...
, announced that it would consolidate its existing Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
and suburban workforces into 153000 square foot square feet in the America Tower, with more than 1,100 employees based in the space. Lynn Cook of the Houston Business Journal described this as "an astonishing number for the size of Andersen Consulting's lease." In 1999 Cushman & Wakefield, a realty firm, moved its Houston office into the America Tower from the Wells Fargo Tower of Four Oaks Place
Four Oaks Place
rightFour Oaks Place is a complex of sksycrapers in Uptown Houston, Texas, United States. Managed by Transwestern, the complex includes the 420 ft 1330 Post Oak Boulevard , the 25 story 351 ft BHP Billiton Tower , Wells Fargo Tower , and the Interfin...
in Uptown Houston
Uptown Houston
The Uptown District of Houston is located 6.2 miles west of downtown and is centered along Post Oak Boulevard, Westheimer Road , and the Galleria...
As of 1999 the building was 99% leased.
Tenants
American General Life Companies has offices in the America Tower.American General Life Insurance Company is headquartered in the Life Building.
The Consulate-General of Norway in Houston
Consulate-General of Norway in Houston
The Consulate-General of Norway in Houston is Norway's diplomatic mission in Houston, Texas, United States. It is located in the Neartown area....
was in Suite 1185 in the Riviana Building. It is now located in another location in Neartown.