HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – JPMorgan Chase bank – in one of Houston’s biggest office moves since Covid hit, has completed its move into the tallest tower in Texas.
More than 1,700 bank employees – most of them technologists making up the bank’s Houston Technology Center – are now occupying 250,000-SF on 12 floors in the 75-story JPMorgan Chase Tower.
The building, 600 Travis Street, has been undergoing a significant renovation of the exterior plaza and the creation of a new entry, designed by the HOK architecture firm.
Triangles, a Pyramid and The Louvre
The plaza area transformation is nearing completion and will feature a vibrant urban garden with increased green space and renewed connections between the outdoors and the building. In a tribute to the building’s iconic history, the reimagined 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– that creates a spacious lobby with immense natural light and biophilic qualities as the outdoors are brought in.
The move reconnects the legacies of Mr. Gerald Hines, the tower’s developer and Houston banking legend Ben F. Love, the leader of Texas Commerce Bank, which was the original anchor tenant of the 1,002-foot-tall building, which was called Texas Commerce Tower when it opened 40 years ago.
“Gerald D. Hines and Ben Love forged this partnership nearly 50 years ago, and we are proud to welcome back JPMorgan Chase into one of the most iconic buildings in Houston, one that carried their name for decades,” said John Mooz, the Texas-based senior managing director for Hines..
Hines and an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management acquired the building, 600 Travis Street and the adjacent 601 Travis Street building in 2019 for $627 million.
I.M. Pei designed Pyramide du Louvre & Texas Commerce Tower
The 1.7 million SF JPMorgan Chase Tower, designed by I.M. Pei & Partners, was completed in 1982. The building sits on a block bounded by Travis, Milam, Texas and Capitol.
The bank moved out if the 75-story tower a number of years ago. This 2021 move represents a homecoming of sorts for the Manhattan-based financial institution.
JPMorgan Chase signed the lease for the space in July 2020. Michael Anderson, Diana Bridger, and Margaret Elkins of Cushman & Wakefield represented the landlord.
A noted outdoor fixture on the plaza – the largest Joan Miró sculpture ever commissioned, entitled “Personage and Birds” remains on the plaza.
JPMorgan Chase interior space is described as a modern, flexible design that allows for a variety of working options. “Employees can select workspaces based on the type of work they are doing throughout the day—choosing a collaborative space to work with teammates, desktops when individual focus is required, or traditional conference rooms enabled with the latest workplace technology,” the bank said in a press release.
As part of the real estate move, JPMorgan Chase relocated its Houston Technology Center from 1111 Fannin at Dallas Street. The Technology Center, which brings together more than 1,600 technologists from seven lines of business, was established in 2002 with an initial contingent only 250 employees.
“Our bright, open concept office is filled with the latest in collaboration and private spaces for our software engineers to leverage. This office represents the next generation of workspace design and positions us well for continued growth in our engineering community,” said Forrest Duke, head of the bank’s Houston Technology Center.
Catty-cornered from the 75-story tower, JPMorgan Chase has 800 employees working the historic building at 712 Main.
JPMorgan Chase has nearly 5,000 employees in Houston and deep roots in Houston going back 155 years JPMorgan Chase said it is currently seeking to fill more than 250 technology jobs in Houston.
Hines is building the 47-story Texas Tower office building across the street from the JPMorgan Chase Tower.
Sept. 8, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
For more about Texas real estate, check out the book Houston 2020: America’s Boom Town – An Extreme Close Up by Ralph Bivins. Available on Amazon http://tiny.cc/4a2g6y
Houston 2020 Ebook version https://tinyurl.com/4xm7z8b5
Photo credits: Ralph Bivins, Realty News Report Copyright 2021
File: JP Morgan Chase in Relo to Tallest Tower in Texas
File: Cushman & Wakefield. Relo to Tallest Tower in Texas – 75-story JPMorgan Chase Tower in Houston.