HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – The tallest skyscraper in Texas — a 75-story tower that first opened in 1982 — has been officially renamed, building owners Hines, the international real estate firm, and an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management announced.
The building will now be known as JPMorgan Chase & Co. Tower.
JPMorgan Chase became the new anchor tenant in July, signing a 250,000-square-foot lease that brought the 1.7 million-square-foot property to 90 percent leased.
“The renaming of 600 Travis Street is an exciting milestone in our partnership with JPMorgan Chase. As one of the most iconic buildings in Houston, we are proud to restore a name that is an important part of our city’s history,” said Hines Senior Managing Director John Mooz. “We now look forward to completing a best-in-class transformation that will modernize the building’s amenities and ensure a tenant experience worthy of its place on Houston’s skyline.”
Hines has engaged HOK to design a significant renovation of the downtown tower. Plans include major updates to the lobby and the exterior plaza area, the creation of connected collaborative workspaces, enhancements to shared building elements, and the addition of a thoughtfully designed conference center.
Inspired by The Louvre
As part of the overhaul, the plaza will be reimagined as a vibrant urban garden with expanded green space and stronger connections between outdoor and indoor areas. Paying homage to the tower’s architectural legacy, the redesigned lobby will feature a new glass pyramid entry inspired by the Louvre Museum in Paris — a nod to the tower’s original architect, I.M. Pei. The glass entry will create a spacious, naturally lit lobby with biophilic qualities that bring an outdoor feel into the interior.
Hines originally developed the tower in 1982 for Texas Commerce Bancshares, the institution that later evolved into JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Designed by I.M. Pei & Partners of New York, the five-sided polished gray granite structure has been managed by Hines for more than three decades, along with the adjacent 20-story 601 Travis Street. The 601 Travis building comprises 407,896 square feet and includes a 7,000-square-foot fitness center available to tenants of both buildings, a 280-seat auditorium, and 12 floors of parking.
Room With A View
The tower’s former Sky Lobby on the 60th floor will be redesigned as an exclusive Sky Lounge for tenants to enjoy.
In the second half of 2021, JPMorgan Chase planned to relocate its Houston Technology Center to the tower from 1111 Fannin. The bank’s local Technology Center employs more than 1,500 technologists.
“JPMorgan Chase’s local software engineers help the company harness the power of AI, machine learning, and cloud computing. They develop new applications and infrastructure to protect our clients, reduce risk and fraud, and improve customer service,” said Forest Duke, head of the Houston Technology Center.
Hines and Cerberus reacquired both 600 and 601 Travis Street in 2019 and soon launched a major transformation project. Improvements include significant upgrades to the first- and second-floor lobbies, enhanced access to the city tunnels, and improvements to the exterior plaza. The renovation for JPMorgan Chase Tower also envisions a state-of-the-art conference center that can accommodate up to 150 people across multiple rooms over two floors, including a large, flexible gallery space at the lobby level.
“JPMorgan Chase has deep roots in Houston going back 155 years,” said Meredith Beaupre, managing director and market leader for the bank in Houston. “With nearly 6,000 local employees, we’re deeply committed to Houston. Returning to the Tower allows JPMorgan Chase to create a striking urban campus that includes both the city’s tallest tower and one of its most beautiful historic buildings, 712 Main, located just across the street.”
The tower sits on the block bounded by Texas, Travis, Capitol and Milam streets and reaches 1,002 feet in height.
Jan 27, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
File: Tallest Texas Skyscraper Renamed
Photo: JPMorgan Chase & Co. Tower. Courtesy: Hines
File: (2) Hines. Cerberus Capital. Tallest Texas Skyscraper Renamed JPMorgan Chase & Co. Tower. I.M. Pei. HOK. John Mooz.