Allen Center facts for kids
The Allen Center is a group of tall buildings in Downtown Houston, Texas. It's like a small city within the city! This complex has offices, shops, and places to eat. It includes three main buildings: One Allen Center, Two Allen Center, and Three Allen Center. Together, they offer about 3,000,000 square feet (280,000 m2) of space. That's a lot of room for businesses and people!
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History of the Allen Center
The land where the Allen Center now stands was once part of an older neighborhood called the Fourth Ward. In the 1950s, a big highway, Interstate 45, was built. This highway separated this part of the Fourth Ward from the rest. This separated area then became what we know today as the Allen Center. It is now considered part of Downtown Houston.
In 1996, a company called TrizecHahn Properties bought the Allen Center. They bought it for a large sum of money, showing how important this complex was. At that time, about 76% of the spaces in the buildings were rented out.
By 1997, TrizecHahn worked to fill more of the buildings. They even convinced some businesses from another building they owned, the Cullen Center, to move to the Allen Center. This helped the Allen Center become almost fully rented, with about 92% of its spaces occupied by 1998.
Later, in 2001, a large company called Enron faced problems. When it closed, it left empty about 800,000 square feet (74,000 m2) of space in the Allen Center and Cullen Center. This shows how big companies can impact office spaces.
In 2010, some companies started to move or reduce their space in the Allen Center. For example, Devon Energy tried to rent out some of its space. Also, Hess Corporation planned to leave about 500,000 square feet (46,000 m2) of space when its new office tower opened.
One Allen Center
Quick facts for kids One Allen Center |
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| General information | |
| Type | Office |
| Location | 500 Dallas Street, Houston, Texas |
| Coordinates | 29°45′27″N 95°22′13″W / 29.7575°N 95.3704°W |
| Completed | 1972 |
| Owner | Brookfield Properties |
| Height | |
| Roof | 452 ft (138 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 34 |
| Floor area | 27,000 square feet (2,500 m2) per floor; approximately 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2) total. |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Wilson Morris Crain and Anderson |
| Structural engineer | Ellisor Engineers Inc. |
One Allen Center is a tall building that stands 452 ft (138 m) high. It was finished in 1972 and has 34 floors. This makes it one of the tallest buildings in Houston. It was designed with a special type of steel frame to make it strong.
A company called Macquarie Bank has an office on the 31st floor of this building. Also, the Houston Public Library has a special "Booklink" facility here.
Two Allen Center
Two Allen Center was once known by a different name: the Citicorp Building.
Three Allen Center
| Three Allen Center | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Office |
| Location | 333 Clay Street, Houston, Texas |
| Coordinates | 29°45′27″N 95°22′19″W / 29.75738°N 95.37183°W |
| Completed | 1983 |
| Management | Brookfield Properties |
| Height | |
| Roof | 685 ft (209 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 50 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Lloyd Jones Brewer & Associates |
Three Allen Center is the tallest building in the complex, reaching 685 ft (209 m) high. It was completed in 1983 and has 50 floors. It is one of the top 15 tallest buildings in Houston.
Several companies have offices here. For example, Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. has an office on the 42nd floor. Another company, Oil States International (whose stock symbol is NYSE: OIS), has an office on the 46th floor.
Businesses and Offices at Allen Center
Many different businesses and organizations have offices in the Allen Center buildings.
Businesses in One Allen Center
- Don Patron Bar and Grill: This restaurant was a popular spot in the lobby for about 20 years. It served Tex-Mex food and was a favorite for office workers and business lunches. It closed in 2016 when the lobby was remodeled.
- Coastal Water Authority: This organization has an office on the 28th floor.
Businesses in Two Allen Center
- Qatar Airways: This airline has an office on the 16th floor.
- Chamberlain Hrdlicka: This law firm has offices on the 13th and 14th floors.
Businesses in Three Allen Center
- Plains All American Pipeline: This company has its main office on the 16th floor.
- EOG Resources: This company used to have offices in Three Allen Center. In 2006, they announced they were moving to a different building called Heritage Plaza. They planned to move about 400 employees by early 2007.
At one time, the Consulate-General of Switzerland in Houston (which is like an embassy for Switzerland) was located in Two Allen Center. However, this office closed in 2006.
