Williams Tower : 2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77056, United States

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80% of our readers like Williams Tower.

Architecturally simple, but culturally significant to the people of Houston. The Williams Tower rises 64 stories over the Galleria Area and has become an icon of the city. Had it been cast in stone, rather than glass it would be easily mistaken for any of the skyscrapers that went up before the Great Depression. Now it is a memorial to those buildings that went before it, and still in-line with the other glass blocks that share its zip code. The structure at the bottom of the tower isn't a lobby, it's a fountain. A great horseshoe water wall that lights up at night. However, in this photo, the water is not flowing. The Williams Tower is actually constructed as two 32-story buildings stacked on top of each other. The first floor lobby services the Williams Corporation and its offices on floors three through 32. The second floor lobby services a number of other companies on floors 33-64. Tenants boast that this is the tallest office building outside an urban core in America. Unlike most buildings in the Bayou City, the Williams Tower is impressive at night. Even though it has the same light-dimming skyline-ruining glass that the other towers in the city do, the Williams Tower makes up for it by having a rotating beacon on top. It's similar to an aircraft beacon, but much more visible. It is said that its rotation was at one time synchronized with a similar beacon on the Palmolive Building in Chicago, but there is little proof. There is a sky lobby that also serves as an observation deck on the 51st floor.. Unfortunately, it faces out over dull suburbia, rather than towards downtown, or any of Houston's other six skylines. You may not be able to go there, anyway. It was closed after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and the public hasn't been welcome since.

>1985 - The Houston Chronicle reports that a man has been arrested for climbing the outside of the Transco Tower. Donald Treste was wearing a gorilla costume and using suction cups to inch his way up the building's glass facade.
>16 December, 2002 - A man described by his family as mentally ill took his own life by leaping from the Williams Tower. Ryan Hartley stopped rush hour traffic and caused a spectacle when he started climbing the outside of the glass building at 7:45am local time. Hartley, a skilled rock climber and University of Houston student, used only a hook and a small bag of chalk to make it to the 26th floor where he slipped, but then re-gained control. Witnesses say he paused for a few minutes, smiled, then leapt from the tower to his death while local television helicopters whirled overhead. Though Hartley appeared be a loyal Christian, and regularly attended services and activities at his church, local television station KHOU-TV/DT (11/31) reported that he left behind a suicide note denouncing American military involvement in Muslim countries, and warning that the country was getting itself into another Vietnam-style conflict. When Hartley jumped, Belo-owned CBS affiliate KHOU was on a close-up of the man, but froze the picture as he pushed off of the building. Fox station KRIV-TV/DT (26/27) showed nearly all of Hartley's gruesome suicide. All the local television stations in Houston publically bray about having a policy against televising suicides. But only NBC affiliate KPRC-TV/DT (2/35), ABC's KTRK-TV/DT (13/32), Univision's KXLN-TV/DT (45/46), NBC's KTMD-TV/DT(47/48), and News24Houston chose to abide by their public policy.
> March 25, 2008 - The Houston Chronicle reports that Hines REIT is buying this building and the adjacent parking garage for $271,500,000.

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Discuss the architecture of Williams Tower and other buildings in Houston.
Last 18 Comments

Brenton Allen McClanahan - Thursday, March 20th, 2008 @ 12:21pm • Rating:

Five stars.

I remember this building as a child, I love this building

David Perry - Thursday, November 8th, 2007 @ 8:33am • Rating:

Four stars.

One of the reasons this is such a significan structure in Houston (IMHO) is that it is very much taller than anything else near it. One can see this building from almost anywhere in this city. AdditionallY, I have personally been able to see this building from College Station, Tx just after takeoff from the airport (I fly and it was a very clear day). The building is not only attractive and efficient, but a landmark due to it's placement.

Pamela - Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 @ 4:29pm • Rating:

Five stars.

I work right next to Williams Tower and have a view of it from my office window and I admire it everyday, I love the view and am so proud that this structure is in Houston, Texas.

Avitosh Tiwari - Wednesday, May 9th, 2007 @ 5:19pm • Rating:

Four stars.

"BEAUTIFUL" for many different reasons.totally AWESOME.

STEPHEN VEAL - Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 @ 10:38pm • Rating:

Five stars.

It doesn't get any better than this!!

Harold Johnson - Friday, February 9th, 2007 @ 2:56am • Rating:

Five stars.

The architect has to be praised. To build such a magnificent high-rise in the Galleria area gives those who are West of the city something to navigate by when coming into Houston from the West. And the waterfall cooling tower is a thrill.

Rafael Cabanillas - Friday, January 26th, 2007 @ 8:13pm • Rating:

Four stars.

Me parece un edificio muy vanguardista y a la vez sobrio sus linea son muy simetricas. en fin un edificio muy agradable e la vicion de la urbanidad de texas.

Susie Qzzer - Friday, December 1st, 2006 @ 10:10am • Rating:

Five stars.

When I look at this magnificent and powerful structure I think of Howard Roark, the famed architecht of non-conformity in Ayn Rands novel "The Fountainhead". Inside the lower lobby on the west side of the building you can get lost in time as the two mural paintings that adorn the rear wall represents the construction of this amazing structure back in the days the novel depicts. Its an icon here in Houston and for me represents beauty in simplicity. It remains strong, bold and beautuful. It's clearly a treasure amongst Phillip Johnson's outstanding collection.

Daniel Bolduc - Monday, July 24th, 2006 @ 12:20am • Rating:

Five stars.

Just to see the tower shine it's beacon light at night, gives you an aww seen while driving passed the galleria area coming into the Northwest side of Houston. Oustanding at night with it's beautiful Waterwall.

architect ilyas siddiqui - Saturday, July 22nd, 2006 @ 3:37am • Rating:

Four stars.

it is quite greaat structure showing effieciency of architect and cunstruction company

Gene Moss - Monday, May 1st, 2006 @ 7:29pm • Rating:

Five stars.

A true architectural momument due to the efforts and creativity of Phillip Johnson, John Burgee and Gerald Hines that will long live in architectural history.

Dave Bastida - Wednesday, April 12th, 2006 @ 4:09pm • Rating:

Five stars.

Another great Johnson/Burgee enhancement to Houston's skyline.

Eugene Smith - Tuesday, March 28th, 2006 @ 4:37pm • Rating:

Five stars.

Absolutely imposing.

john - Sunday, March 20th, 2005 @ 8:36pm • Rating:

Five stars.

I've seen this skyscraper so many times on my way to The Galleria. This skyscraper is not the tallest here in houston, but it might be the best known. Its just beutiful from the inside and outside in my opinion its one of the most beutiful skyscrapers in the world.

Joy Anderson - Friday, March 18th, 2005 @ 12:31pm • Rating:

Five stars.

The most magnificent high rise office tower across America due to its reflective nature during the different times of the day. Even more so at night.

Christian - Sunday, January 30th, 2005 @ 12:45pm • Rating:

Five stars.

Very nice structure, just awesome

Alan MacHett - Thursday, January 27th, 2005 @ 8:20pm • Rating:

Three stars.

It's average. The only striking aspect of this building is that it stands taller than everything around it. I admire the linear facade and the monolithic style, but, to quote the article, it is "in-line with the other glass blocks that share its zip code" -- in other words, unremarkable. And I can't believe the article complains about its light-dimming glass, as if we don't already have enough light pollution.

John Mcenzie - Wednesday, December 22nd, 2004 @ 7:04pm • Rating:

Five stars.

this structure is builtiful

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