HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – The Wideman Company acquired the TotalEnergies Tower, a 35-story, 850,000-SF office tower located at 1201 Louisiana Street in the heart of Downtown Houston.
The skyscraper, built in 1971, is home to The Petroleum Club, one of Houston’s most storied private clubs. The club is located on the top floor of the building, which stands 518 feet tall.
Wideman Company acquired the building from Brookfield Properties, which remains one of the largest owners of downtown properties.
The Orlando-based Wideman Company is no stranger to Downtown Houston. In 2024, Wideman acquired the Jones on Main, a historic block of Jesse H. Jones buildings at 708 Main and 712 Main.
“We have been actively looking for the right opportunity to make another significant investment in Houston since acquiring Jones on Main,” said Matthew Wideman, CEO of The Wideman Company. “Houston continues to demonstrate the characteristics we look for in long-term investments: a globally significant economy, a deep corporate tenant base, and a downtown district that is seeing meaningful reinvestment and renewed momentum. TotalEnergies Tower represents a rare opportunity to acquire a premier asset with an exceptional location, institutional-quality tenancy, and a strong foundation for the future.”
The purchase price and details of the transaction were not disclosed, although at one time real estate professionals speculated that the tower could fetch $100 per SF. However, the property had been subject to a ground lease that impacts net income projections.
A Long-Term Hold
Wideman Company said TotalEnergies Tower, like the Jones on Main, is intended to be a long-term hold within The Wideman Company’s portfolio.
“We are generational owners who steward properties for decades,” Wideman said. “Our approach is focused on investing in exceptional assets, building relationships with tenants and the surrounding community, and creating properties that remain relevant for generations.”
The TotalEnergies Tower is located on the block bounded by Louisiana, Dallas, Milam, and Polk streets, across from the Hyatt Regency hotel.
“We are excited that The Wideman Company has made another significant investment signaling long-term confidence in the future of Houston’s urban core,” said Kristopher Larson, President and CEO of Downtown Houston+. “Private investment in vertical development is accompanying strategic public investments on the ground in infrastructure improvements and signature civic spaces, such as the Main Street Promenade and the reimagined Tranquility Park. More than $2.5 billion is flowing into Downtown this year alone and it remains Houston’s most prestigious and powerful business address.”
In June, another downtown building was sold. The 542,919-SF building, 919 Milam, which was formerly the home of the Bank of Southwest, was sold to another Florida group that is considering converting the building to residential, according to an exclusive story in Realty News Report. It is is located on a block bounded by Travis, Walker, McKinney and Milam, about two blocks from the TotalEnergies Tower.
TotalEnergies Tower, which is about 80% leased, is home to TotalEnergies’ North American headquarters of the French energy firm.
Ziegler Cooper Architects, a Houston-based firm led by Scott Ziegler, designed a recent renovation of the building.
Downtown Leasing Potential
Wideman Company has engaged Vince Strake and Lesley Rice of Partners Real Estate to handle leasing of the TotalEnergies tower.
Leasing activity has been increasing in downtown, according to most recent publication of “The Office Story,” a proprietary research study conducted for more than 40 years by Downtown Houston+
Downtown leasing improved for the second consecutive year, totaling more than 2.4 million square feet in 2025, an 8.5% increase from 2024 and a 17.2% increase from 2023.
“We are encouraged to find new leasing activity rose 18% year-over-year, while renewal activity remained a major driver of total transaction volume,” said Larson of Downtown Houston+. “This indicates more tenants are recommitting to Downtown and more of them are expanding, as we now see individual return-to-office visits exceeding 90% of pre-pandemic levels.”
In July, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas) has leased 91,761 SF in the 1100 Louisiana tower in one of the largest downtown office leases in recent years.
Winfield Haggard Jr. and Diana Bridger, both of Partners Real Estate, represented the landlord, Fantome Tower LP, in the lease transaction. Tim D. Relyea, Executive Vice Chairman at Cushman & Wakefield, represented Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).
The 55-story 1100 Louisiana building was developed by Hines, Mitsubishi Corporation will occupy floors 31–34.
Aug, 1, 2026, Realty News Report Copyright 2026
Photos by Realty News Report, Copyright 2026
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File: Another Downtown Skyscraper Acquired, 1201 Louisiana, Another Downtown Skyscraper Acquired