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Heritage Plaza (building)
Encyclopedia
Heritage Plaza is a skyscraper
located in the Skyline District
of downtown Houston
, Texas
. Standing at 762 feet (232 meters), the tower is the 5th tallest building in Houston, the 8th tallest in Texas, and the 60th tallest in the United States. The building, designed by Houston-based M. Nasr & Partners P.C., was completed in 1987, with 53 floors.
in the midst of the collapse of the Texas
real estate, banking, and oil industries in the 1980s. The building stood as the most recently completed major skyscraper in Houston for over 10 years, until the completion of 1500 Louisiana Street
in 2002.
The building has 1150000 square feet (106,838.5 m²) of lease-able space, of which a vast majority sat vacant until Texaco
leased 550000 square feet (51,096.7 m²) in 1989. The building went on to serve as the US headquarters of Texaco for 12 years. In 2001, Heritage Plaza became the US headquarters of the ChevronTexaco
corporation.
In 2005 Goddard Investment Group acquired the building. During that year over 700000 square foot in the building was unoccupied. In 2006 EOG Resources
announced that it will move from 3 Allen Center to Heritage Plaza. The firm had signed a 15-year lease for 200000 square foot and planned to move around 400 employees. The firm, scheduled to move in early 2007, became the largest tenant in the building at the time.
In early 2007, Deloitte & Touche USA L.L.P. executed a lease to occupy 300000 square feet (27,870.9 m²) as part of a 12-year, 10-floor lease with options to increase that space, if needed. The new lease consolidated staff from three Houston sites to one downtown location, making Deloitte the largest tenant in Heritage Plaza.
Heritage Plaza is well known because of its central location in the central business district skyline, and for the stepped granite feature located on the top of the building that resembles a Mayan
pyramid. This feature was inspired by the architect's visit to the Mexican Yucatán
. The crown of the building is also said to resemble an image of a Bald Eagle
spreading its wings.
The interior lobby of Heritage Plaza was also designed with Mexican
influences. The lower levels of the building, which contain a large food court, contain a distinctive multi-level marble waterfall that falls from the lobby.
Heritage Plaza is one of the few skyscrapers in downtown Houston that is not directly connected to the extensive Houston tunnel network
. It is, however, connected to the DoubleTree Hotel Houston-Allen Center through a skyway
.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
located in the Skyline District
Houston Skyline District
The Houston Skyline District is a geographic area encompassing several blocks of downtown Houston, Texas, USA.The term 'Skyline District' originated when downtown Houston was divided into a number of smaller districts: the Main Street Corridor, the Market Square Historical District, and the Houston...
of downtown Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, 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...
. Standing at 762 feet (232 meters), the tower is the 5th tallest building in Houston, the 8th tallest in Texas, and the 60th tallest in the United States. The building, designed by Houston-based M. Nasr & Partners P.C., was completed in 1987, with 53 floors.
History
Heritage Plaza completed construction in early 1987. It was the last major office building completed in downtown HoustonDowntown 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 the midst of the collapse of the 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...
real estate, banking, and oil industries in the 1980s. The building stood as the most recently completed major skyscraper in Houston for over 10 years, until the completion of 1500 Louisiana Street
1500 Louisiana Street
1500 Louisiana Street, formerly Enron Center South, is a 600 ft tall Post-Modern skyscraper in Houston, Texas. It was completed in 2002 and has 40 floors. It is the 17th tallest building in the city and the tallest completed in the 2000s....
in 2002.
The building has 1150000 square feet (106,838.5 m²) of lease-able space, of which a vast majority sat vacant until Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
leased 550000 square feet (51,096.7 m²) in 1989. The building went on to serve as the US headquarters of Texaco for 12 years. In 2001, Heritage Plaza became the US headquarters of the ChevronTexaco
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
corporation.
In 2005 Goddard Investment Group acquired the building. During that year over 700000 square foot in the building was unoccupied. In 2006 EOG Resources
EOG Resources
EOG Resources is a Fortune 500 company with its headquarters in the Heritage Plaza building in downtown Houston, Texas. The company is one of the largest independent oil and natural gas companies in the United States with proven reserves in the United States, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, the United...
announced that it will move from 3 Allen Center to Heritage Plaza. The firm had signed a 15-year lease for 200000 square foot and planned to move around 400 employees. The firm, scheduled to move in early 2007, became the largest tenant in the building at the time.
In early 2007, Deloitte & Touche USA L.L.P. executed a lease to occupy 300000 square feet (27,870.9 m²) as part of a 12-year, 10-floor lease with options to increase that space, if needed. The new lease consolidated staff from three Houston sites to one downtown location, making Deloitte the largest tenant in Heritage Plaza.
Design
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
pyramid. This feature was inspired by the architect's visit to the Mexican Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
. The crown of the building is also said to resemble an image of a Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
spreading its wings.
The interior lobby of Heritage Plaza was also designed with Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
influences. The lower levels of the building, which contain a large food court, contain a distinctive multi-level marble waterfall that falls from the lobby.
Heritage Plaza is one of the few skyscrapers in downtown Houston that is not directly connected to the extensive Houston tunnel network
Underground city
An Underground city is a series of linked subterranean spaces that may provide a defensive refuge; a place for living, working or shopping; a transit system; mausolea; wine or storage cellars; cisterns or drainage channels; or several of these. The term may also refer to a network of tunnels that...
. It is, however, connected to the DoubleTree Hotel Houston-Allen Center through a skyway
Skyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
.
See also
- List of tallest buildings in Houston
- List of tallest buildings in Texas