JPMorgan Chase Tower (Houston) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids JPMorgan Chase Tower |
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| Former names | Texas Commerce Tower in United Energy Plaza Texas Commerce Tower |
| Alternative names | Chase Tower |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Location | 600 Travis Street Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 29°45′38″N 95°21′50″W / 29.760556°N 95.363889°W |
| Construction started | 1981 |
| Completed | 1982 |
| Cost | U.S. $2 billion |
| Owner | Prime Asset Management |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 305.4 m (1,002 ft) |
| Roof | 305.4 m (1,002 ft) |
| Top floor | 296.8 m (974 ft) |
| Observatory | 268 m (879 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 75 |
| Floor area | 2,243,013 sq ft (208,382.7 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 52 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | I. M. Pei & Partners Ziegler Cooper Architects |
| Developer | Hines Interests Limited Partnership |
| Structural engineer | CBM Engineers |
| Main contractor | Turner Construction |
The JPMorgan Chase Tower, once known as the Texas Commerce Tower, is a very tall building in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States. It stands about 305 meters (1,002 feet) high and has 75 floors. It is currently the tallest building in Houston and the tallest building in Texas. It is also the tallest five-sided building in the world!
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About the JPMorgan Chase Tower
The tower was built between 1979 and 1981. It was designed by famous architects from a group called I. M. Pei & Partners. At first, there were plans for the building to be even taller, up to 80 stories. However, the FAA, which manages air travel, was worried that the extra height might be a risk for airplanes flying to and from William P. Hobby Airport nearby.
When it was finished, the JPMorgan Chase Tower was the sixth-tallest building in the United States. It was also the eighth-tallest building in the world. For a while, it was the tallest building in the United States west of the Mississippi River. This changed in 1990 when the U.S. Bank Tower was built in Los Angeles.
The building's main entrance has a huge five-story glass wall. This wall is supported by a special stainless steel frame. It makes the lobby very bright and open, connecting it to the plaza outside. The tower also has shops and other businesses on its lower floors.
Sky Lobby and Art
On the 60th floor, there is a special area called the sky lobby. This area helps people get to the very top floors (61 to 75). It also used to be an observation deck where people could look out over the city. Now, only people who work in the building can use the sky lobby.
In the large plaza at the front of the building, you can see a colorful sculpture. It is called "Personage with Birds" and was created by the artist Joan Miró. It was placed there in 1982.
Even though the tower is named after the bank JPMorgan Chase, the bank only has one branch office on the ground floor. The building is owned by Prime Asset Management and managed by its original developer, Hines Interests.
Hurricane Ike's Impact
On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike hit Houston. Many of the tower's windows were blown out during the storm. This left offices open to the wind and rain. Metal blinds hung twisted, and broken glass covered the streets below. Police had to block off the area because of all the debris.
People wondered why so many windows broke. Experts studied the damage to understand how the strong winds affected the building. They looked at how wind moves around tall buildings and how it might have caused the glass to break.
In Movies
The JPMorgan Chase Tower has appeared in movies. It was used as the headquarters for the "Knox Oil & Gas Company" in the 1983 film Local Hero.
Gallery
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Entrance to the JPMorgan Chase Tower
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JPMorgan Chase Tower on a January day.
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JPMorgan Chase Tower from the rear.
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JPMorgan Chase Tower as viewed from ground level.
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View from the Sky Lobby facing south west Houston. Visible are the Wells Fargo Plaza (left) and Williams Tower in the far background
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JP Morgan Chase Tower during a summer afternoon.
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The building as seen from a parking lot north of Minute Maid Park.
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Houston evening skyline from the same parking lot with J.P. Morgan Chase Tower on far right.
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Damage to the JP Morgan Chase Tower after Hurricane Ike.
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See also
In Spanish: JPMorgan Chase Tower (Houston) para niños
