When the prime tenant of this 1970s downtown Houston commercial towers prepared to relocate its headquarters outside the city limits, the owner worked with Page to develop a strategy to create a new identity and reposition the building in the corporate real estate market. The result is a Class A building featuring a new entrance, lobby, address and identity that redefines its presence in the downtown landscape.
The extensive renovation draws on the classic modern lines of the building’s architectural heritage while projecting a new image and brand. Natural stone, wood veneer, textured cast glass and stainless steel contribute to the building’s updated yet timeless appearance. The original brief described the project as a lobby renovation, but during discussions with ownership, it became a more ambitious project to transform the brand and perception in the market of this well-known building.
The recessed ground floor lobby enclosure now provides a continuous frameless glass front behind the perimeter columns. Visitors are greeted by a new interactive digital building directory and comfortable lounge areas appointed with sophisticated furnishings for reception and informal tenant meetings. The blue-gray tones and beautiful veining of bookmatched Aquasol quartzite clad walls rest on floors of Brandy Crag Silver limestone in a refreshing departure from the monochromatic travertine surfaces and dark, gold leaf ceiling of the original lobby.
Fumed larch wood veneer panels add warmth to the palette and articulate the elevator banks. Sleek white ceilings are bathed in light from concealed cove fixtures and the ample daylight through the frameless glass façade. Specialty pendant light fixtures highlight lounge settings and the centrally located security desk.
A constellation of pendant lights visually connects the street level lobby to the tunnel level escalator lobby below. The arrival experience and connection between tunnel and street level is further enhanced by a specially commissioned cast glass sculptural feature designed in collaboration with Joel Berman Glass Studios.
The resulting design of 811 Louisiana transforms the building into a place that is both familiar and refreshingly new as it claims a new place of prominence in the city. In this car-centric, yet ever-evolving city, it shows a proud face to those arriving in downtown by car, and provides an elegant experience for tenants and visitors.
