Pennzoil Place, Postmodern skyscraper in Downtown Houston, United States.
Pennzoil Place consists of two 36-story towers constructed with dark bronze glass and aluminum, connected by a glass-enclosed atrium at ground level.
The building opened in 1975 under the vision of developer Gerald D. Hines, marking a departure from traditional rectangular office tower designs in American architecture.
Architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable proclaimed the structure as Building of the Year in 1975, recognizing its influence on commercial architecture.
The complex contains 1,409,713 square feet of office space and connects to Houston's underground tunnel network with direct access to restaurants and shops.
The twin trapezoidal towers create different visual perspectives as visitors move around the building, making the structure appear to change shape.
Location: Houston
Inception: 1975
Architects: Philip Johnson, John Burgee
Floors above the ground: 36
Height: 159.4 m
Made from material: composite pattern
Address: 711 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX, United States
GPS coordinates: 29.76030,-95.36570
Latest update: December 5, 2025 15:35
Philip Johnson designed buildings that brought together modernism and classical references, shaping how architecture developed through the 20th century. His work includes glass pavilions, office towers, public spaces, and cultural institutions. His designs show an interest in clean lines, reflective surfaces, and the relationship between interior spaces and their surroundings. The collection features the Glass House in New Canaan, a transparent residence set within the landscape, the Seagram Building in New York, a bronze tower on Park Avenue, and the Puerta de Europa in Madrid, two leaning towers along Paseo de la Castellana. Other examples include the AT&T Building with its distinctive pediment, PPG Place in Pittsburgh with its glass towers inspired by Gothic forms, the IDS Center in Minneapolis, and Pennzoil Place in Houston. The collection also covers the Fort Worth Water Gardens, an urban park with pools and cascades, the Crystal Cathedral in California, a glass and steel worship space, along with the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth and the Kreeger Museum in Washington. These places show different sides of Johnson's practice and his ability to adapt buildings to urban and natural settings.
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