HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – JPMorgan Chase has leased 250,000 square feet in the 75-story 600 Travis Street building, the tallest office tower in Texas. This lease ranks among the largest office transactions in downtown Houston in recent years.
Chase’s decision coincides with plans announced by the tower’s owners — Houston-based Hines and an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. — to undertake a comprehensive renovation of the property.
The scope of work includes a redesigned sky lounge on the 60th floor, substantial improvements to the outdoor plaza, and a striking, pyramid-shaped expansion of the building’s main lobby.
Chase had been a major tenant in the tower for decades before moving out a few years ago. The bank is expected to vacate space at 1111 Fannin and relocate hundreds of employees to 600 Travis, according to sources in the real estate community.
Michael Anderson, Diana Bridger, and Margaret Elkins of Cushman & Wakefield, together with Chanse McLeod of Hunton Andrews Kurth, represented the landlord in the 600 Travis lease.
Chase will also maintain a substantial presence at its existing 712 Main Street location.
Hines and Cerberus acquired 600 Travis Street and the neighboring 601 Travis Street properties last year. The revitalization plan was developed by HOK.
An important outdoor feature on the plaza — Joan Miró’s “Personage and Birds,” the largest Miró sculpture ever commissioned — will remain in place.
However, street-level changes to both the plaza and the lobby will be extensive.
“The planned changes to the building’s ground floor will be among the most transformative in our firm’s history,” said Hines Senior Managing Director John Mooz. “For several years, our team has contemplated the untapped potential of the building’s large plaza area. The renovation takes full advantage of that opportunity, and that vision resonated with our new tenant.”
The new lobby entry will replace the existing five-story curtain wall, transforming the current chrome-and-glass grid into a dramatic trapezoidal pyramid. This change will add nearly 3,000 square feet to the lobby, which has long been dominated by elevator banks and, historically, a Chase branch.
Hines describes the redesigned lobby as a bright, hospitality-focused space that brings the outdoors inside: “The renovated entrance will introduce abundant natural light and biophilic elements. The pyramid creates a spacious lobby for tenants, with updated finishes and artistic lighting features.”
Facing Milam Street and adjacent to Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, the tower will also include new food and beverage options aimed at serving the Theater District.
Hines views the existing plaza — previously used informally by nearby Houston Chronicle staff for lunches — as underutilized. The renovation will convert the plaza into a vibrant urban garden with expanded green space, more seating varieties, a larger canopy, and improved connections between the exterior and the building.
With new retail in the lobby and upgraded dining options, the plaza will be activated for tenants and visitors. The design supports outdoor meetings and meals, collaborative sessions, and more secluded areas for quiet reflection.
Completed in 1982 and designed by I.M. Pei & Partners, the 1.7 million-square-foot tower was originally developed by Hines. It occupies the block bounded by Travis, Milam, Texas, and Capitol streets.
Hines is also developing the 47-story Texas Tower on the former site of the Houston Chronicle, across the street from 600 Travis.
Chase’s new offices at 600 Travis sit diagonally from Pennzoil Place, a Hines-developed complex that opened in 1975 and drew international architectural attention. Pennzoil Place consists of two 36-story bronze-tinted glass towers with slanted crowns, designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee. The project influenced skyscraper design globally and earned wide recognition.
Originally known as the Texas Commerce Tower at its 1982 opening, 600 Travis connects to Houston’s downtown tunnel system, which links many key buildings in the central business district.
Founded in 1957 by Gerald D. Hines, the Hines organization operates in 219 cities across 23 countries and currently has 148 developments underway worldwide.
July 13, 2020 Realty News Report Copyright 2020
File: Tallest Tower in Texas
A new entry and outdoor plaza will be built at 600 Travis. Design: HOK.