View source for JPMorgan Chase Tower (Houston)

{{Short description|Skyscraper in Houston, Texas}}
{{Distinguish|JPMorgan Chase Building (Houston)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox building
| name = JPMorgan Chase Tower
| image = Chase Tower, a block away.jpg
| image_size = 
| former_names = Texas Commerce Tower in United Energy Plaza<br />Texas Commerce Tower
| alternate_names = Chase Tower
| location = 600 Travis Street<br />[[Houston]], [[Texas]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| coordinates = {{coord|29.760556|-95.363889|region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
| status = completed
| start_date = 1978
| completion_date = 1982
| building_type = Commercial offices
| architectural = {{convert|305.4|m|abbr=on}}
| roof = {{convert|305.4|m|abbr=on}}
| top_floor = {{convert|296.8|m|abbr=on}}
| observatory = {{convert|268|m|abbr=on}}
| floor_count = 75
| elevator_count = 52
| cost = U.S.&thinsp;$2 billion
| floor_area = {{convert|2243013|sqft|abbr=on}}
| architect = [[Pei Cobb Freed & Partners|I. M. Pei & Partners]]<br />Ziegler Cooper Architects
| structural_engineer = CBM Engineers
| main_contractor = [[Turner Construction]]
| developer = [[Hines Interests Limited Partnership]]
| owner = Cerberus Capital Management and Hines Interests Limited Partnership
| management = 
| references = <ref name=ctbuh>{{ctbuh|472}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/117680 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703121057/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/117680 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |title=Emporis building ID 117680 |work=[[Emporis]]}}</ref>
|website = {{URL|http://www.chasetower.com/}}
}}

The '''JPMorgan Chase Tower''', formerly '''Texas Commerce Tower''', is a {{convert|305.4|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us|adj=mid}}, {{Convert|2243013|sqft|m2|adj=mid}},<ref>{{cite web|title=600 Travis St.|url=https://www.credifi.com/ui/freemium/propertydetails/600%20Travis%20St%20Houston,%20TX/569b5f0ffbffa90574d91bbc|website=CrediFi|access-date=September 19, 2016|archive-date=September 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919233108/https://www.credifi.com/ui/freemium/propertydetails/600%20Travis%20St%20Houston,%20TX/569b5f0ffbffa90574d91bbc|url-status=dead}}</ref> 75-story skyscraper at 600 Travis Street in [[Downtown Houston, Texas]], United States. It is the second [[Tallest buildings in Texas|tallest building in Texas]], the tallest five-sided building in the world, the [[List of tallest buildings in the United States|29th-tallest building in the United States]], and the [[List of tallest buildings in the world|107th-tallest building in the world]].

== Overview ==
Originally completed in 1981 as ''Texas Commerce Tower'' and commissioned by Texas Commerce Bancshares, the skyscraper attains a height of 1002 feet with 75 floors. Overlooking United Energy Plaza located on Capitol Avenue and Milam Street, it features the Joan Miro sculpture, ''Personage and Birds.'' A terrace on the plaza includes a water garden.<ref name=Fox>Fox (2012), p. 22</ref> [[Khalid bin Mahfouz]] was a co-developer of the building,<ref>{{cite book | last=Unger | first=Craig | page=[https://archive.org/details/houseofbushhouse00unge/page/290 290] | title=House of Bush, House of Saud | location=New York | publisher=Scribner | year=2004 | isbn=9780743253376 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/houseofbushhouse00unge/page/290 }}</ref> part of which occupied the former Uptown Theatre, demolished in 1965.<ref>{{cite news | last = Gonzales | first = J. R. | url=http://blog.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2010/08/last-days-at-the-rivoli-and-a-look-at-rice-hotel-laundry | title = Last days at the Rivoli and a look at Rice Hotel Laundry | newspaper= [[Houston Chronicle]] | date = August 11, 2010 | access-date = December 28, 2024}}</ref>

Upon its completion, the building surpassed [[Aon Center (Los Angeles)|Aon Center]] in [[Los Angeles]] to become the tallest building in the United States west of the [[Mississippi River]],<ref>{{cite book | title = Houston Architectural Guide: American Institute of Architects Houston | first = Stephen | last = Fox | editor-first = Nancy | editor-last = Hadley | chapter = Tour A: Downtown | edition = First | page = 31 | publisher = [[American Institute of Architects]]' Houston Chapter and Herring Press | date = 1990 | location = Houston | isbn = 9780917001086 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = United California Bank, Headquarters Building #2, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA (1970-1973) | website = [[Pacific Coast Architecture Database]] | publisher = University of Washington | access-date = May 19, 2025 | url = https://pcad.lib.washington.edu/building/6162/ }}</ref> a title it held until Los Angeles's Library Tower, now known as the [[U.S. Bank Tower (Los Angeles)|U.S. Bank Tower]], was built in 1989.<ref>{{cite news | title = Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles vie for tallest tower west of the Mississippi | first = Antonio | last = Pacheco | newspaper = [[The Architect's Newspaper]] | date = June 21, 2016 | access-date = May 19, 2025 | url = https://www.archpaper.com/2016/06/seattle-san-francisco-los-angeles-tallest-tower/ }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Hines Partnership Acquires the Tallest Office Tower in Texas | newspaper = Realty News Report | date = October 29, 2019 | access-date = May 19, 2025 | url = https://realtynewsreport.com/hines-partnership-acquires-the-tallest-office-tower-in-texas/ }}</ref>

The JPMorgan Chase Tower held the record for "Tallest Building in Texas" longer than any other building in history. It was the tallest building in the state from its topping out in 1981 all the way until Waterline Austin's top out in 2025, making JPMorgan the tallest in the state for 44 years.

JPMorgan Chase Tower is connected to the [[Houston Downtown Tunnel System]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Downtown Houston tunnels unkind to wheelchair users | first = Bill | last = Murphy | newspaper = Houston Chronicle | date = August 18, 2008 | access-date = May 19, 2025 | url = https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/heights-news/article/downtown-houston-tunnels-unkind-to-wheelchair-1776733.php }}</ref> This system forms a network of subterranean, climate-controlled, pedestrian walkways that link ninety-five city blocks.<ref>{{cite news | title = Downtown underground tunnels are Houston's secret treasure trove of businesses and restaurants | first = Shaniece | last = Holmes-Brown | newspaper = Houston Chronicle | date = April 30, 2023 | orig-date = April 12, 2023 – Original publication date | access-date = May 19, 2025 | url = https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/downtown-houston-tunnel-system-history-underground-17877560.php }}</ref> The lobby of JPMorgan Chase Tower has been designed to harmonize not only with the height of the structure but also with the portico of [[Jones Hall]], home of the [[Houston Symphony Orchestra]], and which occupies the city block immediately to the west.<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Three Gentlemen, One Ghost, and a Skyscraper | first = John | last = Bloom | magazine = [[Texas Monthly]] | date = May 1980 | access-date = May 19, 2025 | url = https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/three-gentlemen-one-ghost-and-a-skyscraper/ }}</ref> For that reason, a five-story glass wall supported by a stainless steel space frame spans the entire 85-foot width of the front entrance, making the lobby area light and airy, and opening up the space to the plaza outside.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Buildings - 600 Travis {{!}} History and Architecture  | website = Chase Tower | access-date = May 19, 2025 | url = https://www.chasetower.com/building.php?sect=1 }}</ref> The Tower also includes {{convert|22000|sqft}} of retail space.<ref>{{cite web | title=JPMorgan Chase Tower | url=http://www.thesquarefoot.com/buildings/Houston/TX/77002/Downtown/600_Travis_St/JPMorgan_Chase_Tower | publisher=TheSquareFoot | access-date=January 31, 2013}}</ref>

While the tower's name reflects the bank [[JPMorgan Chase]], the only space designated to Chase was a single branch office on the bottom floor until 2021. The tower is owned by Cerberus Capital Management and [[Hines Interests]].<ref>{{cite news | title=JPMorgan Chase name returns to Houston's tallest office tower | url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/JPMorgan-Chase-name-returns-to-Houston-s-tallest-15902002.php | newspaper = Houston Chronicle | access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref>

==Hurricane Ike==
On September 13, 2008, many of the tower's windows were blown out as [[Hurricane Ike]] struck the city, leaving desks exposed, metal blinds hanging in twisted heaps, and smoky black glass covering the streets below.  Police were forced to cordon off the area due to the amount of debris in the streets.<ref>{{cite news | title = Destruction everywhere | first1 = Chris | last1 = Sherman | first2 = Pauline | last2 = Arrillaga | newspaper = [[The Associated Press]] | via = [[Orlando Sentinel]] | date = September 14, 2008 | access-date = May 19, 2025 | url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/orl-ike1408sep14%2C0%2C680903.story | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080918205510/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/orl-ike1408sep14,0,680903.story | archive-date = September 18, 2008 }}</ref>

At first, it was speculated that the glass came off the building due to impact from debris or due to high-speed winds in the confined spaces.  However, flying glass debris must be entirely governed by drag and lift forces that overcome gravity for a considerable time period.  Also, the high-wind-speed-in-confined-spaces theory is not entirely justified since the height of damage seen in the tower exceeded too significantly the height of the Chase Center parking garage next to the tower.  This theory was proposed because an increase in wind speed produces a drop in external pressure.  This drop in pressure at the side and leeward walls, combined with the normal, higher pressure inside the building would result in a force that could possibly overcome design pressures causing the window to separate. Other theories included those of ABS Consulting Engineers, who suggested that glazing damage may have been produced by "organized" vortices produced by the upwind Calpine Center and steady vortices between the Tower and the Chase Center parking garage.<ref>{{cite press release | title=Abs Consulting Releases Chase Tower Section of Hurricane Ike Study | url=http://www.absconsulting.com/news/2008/HurricaneIke_ChaseTower.html | publisher=Kristy Evenson, ABS Consulting | date=December 15, 2008 | access-date=September 1, 2012 | archive-date=September 2, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902100726/http://www.absconsulting.com/news/2008/HurricaneIke_ChaseTower.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The NatHaz Modeling Laboratory at the [[University of Notre Dame]] conducted an investigation of the flow field around the structure, modeling the tower and the immediate area surrounding it using [[computational fluid dynamics]] (CFD).<ref>{{Cite web | title = Saga of Glass Damage in Urban Environments Continues: Consequences of Aerodynamics and Debris Impact During Hurricane Ike | first = Ahsan | last = Kareem | publisher = University of Notre Dame | url = http://www.nd.edu/~nathaz/doc/NATHAZ_Ike_Glass_Dmg.pdf | date = November 14, 2008 | access-date = April 13, 2009 | archive-date = June 7, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100607080611/http://www.nd.edu/~nathaz/doc/NATHAZ_Ike_Glass_Dmg.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> A 2009 report by the laboratory's researchers suggests that the localized damage is the result of a combination of factors: the arrangement of nearby buildings, critical wind directionality, and the possible entrapment of debris within evolving airflow patterns.<ref>{{cite conference | title = Consequences of Urban Aerodynamics and Debris Impact in Extreme Wind Events | first1 = P. | last1 = Brewick | first2 = L. | last2 = Divel | first3 = K. | last3 = Butler | first4 = R. | last4 = Bashor | first5 = A. | last5 = Kareem | conference = 11th Americas Conference on Wind Engineering | location = San Juan, Puerto Rico | date = June 22–26, 2009 | access-date = May 19, 2025 | url = https://www.iawe.org/Proceedings/11ACWE/11ACWE-Kareem.pdf }}</ref>

==Fictional portrayals==

* The building stood in for the headquarters of the fictional "Knox Oil & Gas Company" in the 1983 film ''[[Local Hero (film)|Local Hero]]''.
* The building stood in as the  fictional location of Charles C. Foster's law office in the 2009 film ''[[Mao's Last Dancer (film)|Mao's Last Dancer]]''.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180px" heights="120px" perrow="4">
File:JPMorganChaseTowerEntranceHoustonTX.JPG|Entrance to the JPMorgan Chase Tower
File:JPMorgan Chase Tower (Houston).jpg|JPMorgan Chase Tower on a January day
File:Chasetowerreflection.jpg| JPMorgan Chase Tower from the rear
File:Daniel2986.jpg|JPMorgan Chase Tower as viewed from ground level
File:Daniel2986 Observation Deck.jpg|View from the Sky Lobby facing south west Houston. Visible are the [[Wells Fargo Plaza (Houston)|Wells Fargo Plaza]] (left) and [[Williams Tower]] in the far background
File:Jpmorganchasetower.jpg|JP Morgan Chase Tower during a summer afternoon
File:JPMorgan Chase Tower with Houston Skyline.jpg|The building as seen from a parking lot north of [[Daikin Park]]
File:JPMorgan Chase Tower with Houston Skyline at night.jpg|Houston evening skyline from the same parking lot with J.P. Morgan Chase Tower on far right
File:Houston Morgan Chase Building Ike.jpg|Damage to the JP Morgan Chase Tower after Hurricane Ike
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[List of tallest buildings in Houston]]
* [[List of tallest buildings by U.S. state]]
* [[List of tallest buildings in Texas]]
* [[List of tallest buildings in the United States]]
* [[Gulf Building (Houston)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book | first=Barrie Scardino | last=Bradley | title=Improbable Metropolis: Houston's Architectural and Urban History | place=Austin | year=2020 | publisher=University of Texas Press | isbn=978-1-4773-2019-8}}
*{{cite book | first=Stephen | last=Fox | title=AIA Houston Architectural Guide | edition=Third | year=2012 | place=Houston | isbn=978-0-615-66959-5 | publisher=American Institute of Architects, Houston Chapter}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.chasetower.com/ JP Morgan Chase Tower Official Site]
* [http://www.vimeo.com/1749486 Video of the after effects of Hurricane Ike on the JPMorgan Chase Tower]

{{S-start}}
{{S-ach|rec}}
{{Succession box
| before = [[Aon Center (Los Angeles)]]
| title = Tallest building in the United States west of Mississippi River
| years = 1982–1989
| after = [[U.S. Bank Tower (Los Angeles)|U.S. Bank Tower]]
}}
{{S-end}}
{{Downtown Houston}}
{{I. M. Pei}}
{{Buildings west of Mississippi timeline}}
{{Buildings in Texas timeline}}
{{Buildings in Houston timeline}}
{{Houston skyscrapers}}
{{Tallest Buildings by U.S. state|state=autocollapse}}
{{Supertall skyscrapers | current}}
{{JPMorgan Chase}}

[[Category:Office buildings completed in 1982]]
[[Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Houston]]
[[Category:I. M. Pei buildings]]
[[Category:JPMorgan Chase buildings]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Texas]]