Moore713 Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I think Houston should be ready to buy these parc of land .. and place them in the incetive zone of Res development if these projects fall thou... Downtown Houston is trying to do something and I for one am sick of these companies buying land and sitting on them for decades.. while they twitle their thumps.. Ither crap or get off the pot but never again should we let these companies treat Houston like the red headed step child. hindering our developlemt till they decided to grace us with their presence.. Buy the land and place it under a residental tax incetive program 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Even the Energy Corridor is well west of the city's demographic center. Even if you pretend that nothing exists east of Downtown, the Energy Corridor would still not be the demographic center. I wonder if, after they finish filling in greenfields between Spring and The Woodlands, the area between The Woodlands and Conroe will be next. I suppose it probably won't even take that long. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Demographic center of Houston is at I-10 and Silber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I definitely have mixed feelings about this remodeling. In general I am convinced that any major remodeling destroys both architectural integrity and the long-term economic value of the property. Try to find me one good example of a major remodeling that ultimately wasn't regretted (read the 806 Main thread)*. And in this case, the refacing is covering up the sole architecturally interesting component of the existing facade, the lower-floor windows sized to give the impression of arches. That said, this isn't a case I would probably want to put a stake in the ground about, or chain myself to the doors to prevent. Even with the arched windows Two Shell has always verged on total anonymity downtown. I'm not sure anyone would ever really call it out as a prime example of the 1967 - 1972 style of bland semi-brutalist office buildings. That isn't my favorite style to begin with. * Offhand list of regrettable downtown "modernizations":Lamar HotelWest BuildingC&I BuildingKirby Building806 MainKrupp & Tuffley Building (Main at Walker)Block across Main from Gulf Building Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I definitely have mixed feelings about this remodeling. In general I am convinced that any major remodeling destroys both architectural integrity and the long-term economic value of the property. Try to find me one good example of a major remodeling that ultimately wasn't regretted (read the 806 Main thread)*. And in this case, the refacing is covering up the sole architecturally interesting component of the existing facade, the lower-floor windows sized to give the impression of arches. That said, this isn't a case I would probably want to put a stake in the ground about, or chain myself to the doors to prevent. Even with the arched windows Two Shell has always verged on total anonymity downtown. I'm not sure anyone would ever really call it out as a prime example of the 1967 - 1972 style of bland semi-brutalist office buildings. That isn't my favorite style to begin with. * Offhand list of regrettable downtown "modernizations":Lamar HotelWest BuildingC&I BuildingKirby Building806 MainKrupp & Tuffley Building (Main at Walker)Block across Main from Gulf BuildingDidn't the old Bank of the Southwest building have a renovation like this on it's lower floors at one point? They look kind of non-50's.I'd add the Bender/San Jacinto Hotel to your list, and maybe the Chronicle building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Didn't the old Bank of the Southwest building have a renovation like this on it's lower floors at one point? They look kind of non-50's.I'd add the Bender/San Jacinto Hotel to your list, and maybe the Chronicle building. The Bank of the Southwest building was facelifted I think in the 1990s. At least it was minor compared to some of these. Definitely the Chronicle. The Bender/San Jacinto building is an interesting case. It was more than just a refacing like the others on the list. The original structure was not only refaced, but it was more than doubled in size and re-purposed from a hotel to an office building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Although I love glass and metal cladding as an update, I am so glad they are keeping a sense of history with this one. Where does one detect the sense of history? The more I look at the rendering the more it reminds me of black shoes paired with white socks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Where does one detect the sense of history? The more I look at the rendering the more it reminds me of black shoes paired with white socks.At least the entire facade isn't going to be blue glass. This bottom floor renovation works with the color of the building. Not quite as fabulous as the Tenneco Building lobby redo, but still modern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Posted this in another thread, but it probably belongs here... I don't understand how Shell signed a lease for 1.3 million sf of space downtown in 2011, and then decides now that they don't need 357k of it. A couple of interesting statements from an article in 2012: Today, Shell’s downtown offices occupy space at One Shell, Two Shell, Pennzoil Place and Two Houston Center, but by 2014 the company will be in One Shell, Two Shell and 1000 Main. Shell is working towards modernizing its workplace, to allow for greater collaboration and less isolation of employees. The company expects the size of the staff to stay the same, but the workflow and interaction will become more efficient. “Following a very detailed analysis of options available within downtown and in suburban areas, a renewal at One and Two Shell most closely matched our business needs and employee experience we wanted to create,” says Jeri A. Ballard, vice president of global real estate strategy & portfolio for Royal Dutch Shell. “This included access to amenities, public transportation options, minimized commute time, economics and total carbon footprint of the location.” Ballard adds that no other part of town offers the depth of amenities found downtown. “We did evaluate constructing a new building in the Houston central business district, but the One and Two Shell options most closely meet our needs,” says Ballard. “Hines will be going through a major base building modernization of One and Two Shell, which will ensure that they will remain class A buildings for years to come.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtsig Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I think Houston should be ready to buy these parc of land .. and place them in the incetive zone of Res development if these projects fall thou... Downtown Houston is trying to do something and I for one am sick of these companies buying land and sitting on them for decades.. while they twitle their thumps.. Ither crap or get off the pot but never again should we let these companies treat Houston like the red headed step child. hindering our developlemt till they decided to grace us with their presence.. Buy the land and place it under a residental tax incetive program what in god's name are you harpnig about? Houston is currently the number one city for real estate investment and development. more companies are relocating here than almost any other city in the country. and do you know why? b/c of these companies who "buy and sit on [land] for decades while twitling their thumps(?)". get a grip. Even the Energy Corridor is well west of the city's demographic center. Even if you pretend that nothing exists east of Downtown, the Energy Corridor would still not be the demographic center. I wonder if, after they finish filling in greenfields between Spring and The Woodlands, the area between The Woodlands and Conroe will be next. I suppose it probably won't even take that long. you are wrong. Demographic center of Houston is at I-10 and Silber moving out towards i-10 and the beltway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 what in god's name are you harpnig about? Houston is currently the number one city for real estate investment and development. more companies are relocating here than almost any other city in the country. and do you know why? b/c of these companies who "buy and sit on [land] for decades while twitling their thumps(?)". get a grip. I was being half serious and half joking dude.. second if you cant reply with a little more respect then dont reply at all 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdog08 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) To be honest, Houston has been a red-headed step child historically for a number of reasons. Edited February 1, 2014 by kdog08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
democide Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Can anyone tell me what new tenants are mentioned in the article? Thank you! New tenants in store for Two Shell Plaza? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Can anyone tell me what new tenants are mentioned in the article? Thank you! New tenants in store for Two Shell Plaza? No new tenants are mentioned, it's just a misleading article title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 It sounds like a fluff piece to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pragmatist Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I grabbed a photo of this as I was walking by yesterday afternoon. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumber2 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Balfour Beatty? Hmmf. I would have picked someone else, like a Linbeck or a Bellows, but Hines can choose whoever they want. I'm sure the finished product will be good enough for most folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Balfour Beatty? Hmmf. I would have picked someone else, like a Linbeck or a Bellows, but Hines can choose whoever they want. I'm sure the finished product will be good enough for most folks. I'll bet Hines will be relieved to get this news. ;-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 7/17 by me 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChannelTwoNews Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2014/10/sneek-peak-what-two-shell-plaza-will-look-like.html?page=all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2014/10/sneek-peak-what-two-shell-plaza-will-look-like.html?page=allI like the lighting but they just made it look even more like a parking garage on the lower floors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Shouldn't they be finished by now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted January 22, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 22, 2015 By Christopher Andrews on Twitter 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Looks pretty good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Scaffolding all gone now, 1/27 by ChistopherAndrews on Twitter 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Kinda feel like it doesn't go with the rest of the building 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 It was better before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 811 Louisiana by marclongoria, on Flickr 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intencity77 Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 (edited) Yikes! Looks just awful and it doesn't even match the building. Should have left the classic stone cladding alone. Not every tower needs to look like it's sitting on top of a parking garage podium because essentially that's what this looks like now, albeit poorly done. Edited April 11, 2015 by intencity77 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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