Williams Tower, Postmodern skyscraper in Uptown Houston, United States
Williams Tower is a 64-story postmodern skyscraper in Uptown Houston. Its upper shaft is clad in dark blue glass panels divided by vertical mullions, while a light beige stone base carries the name WILLIAMS in silver capital letters above a large recessed arched opening with dark glass panes.
Developer Gerald D. Hines hired Philip Johnson's firm, with Morris-Aubry Architects, to design the tower; construction began in August 1981 and was completed in 1983. It opened as the Transco Tower, named for its first major tenant, Transco Energy Corporation. Transco was acquired by Williams Companies in 1995, and the building took the name Williams Tower in 1999.
The tower's name comes from Transco Energy, which commissioned it; Transco was acquired by Williams Companies in 1995, and the building took the Williams name in 1999. Its 7,000-watt rooftop beacon sweeps the sky and marks Uptown Houston at night. Texas Monthly named it "Skyscraper of the Century" in December 1999.
The building serves as an office complex and is not freely accessible to the public. The adjacent park with its water wall can be visited any time of day, though, and offers a quiet environment for walking.
A beacon on the roof sends light beams that can be seen from about 40 miles (60 kilometers) away. The adjacent park features a water wall approximately 64 feet (19 meters) tall that flows continuously.
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