HOUSTON – Gerald D. Hines was known for his commitment to architectural excellence, superior engineering and integrity. Hines died on Saturday at the age of 95.
Born in Gary, Indiana on August 15, 1925, he had recently celebrated his 95th birthday. He graduated from Purdue University and received his degree in Mechanical Engineering. Hines later received honorary doctorates from both Purdue and the University of Houston.
“His true love was building. Even though he designed air conditioning units, he went ahead and built buildings at the same time,” said Ann Becker with the Harris County Historical Society who shared insights on Hine’s impact around the city and world.
“Gerald D. Hines brought innovation, excellence in design, the efficiency of construction and sustainability to the international real estate investment and development world as perhaps no builder of our time has done. No city (bears) his signature as clearly as does Houston and in Houston, the Uptown / Galleria area is his grandest triumph,” said John Breeding, President of Uptown Houston, in a statement.
In 1985, Hines commissioned a fountain to be built within a park-like setting adjacent to the nearby Williams Tower. Known as the Waterwall it was a 64-foot-high, semi-circular Postmodernist fountain located in the 2.77-acre park in the Uptown District.
In 2008 the City of Houston purchased the Waterwall and surrounding land from Hines and one year later, re-named the site to honor him for his many civic contributions.
“Mr. Hines went beyond single building architectural achievements to become the catalyst for creating community,” Breeding stated. “His individual buildings were grounded in beautiful and inviting green oasis, none as dramatic or as beloved by Houstonians as his namesake Gerald D. Hines Water Wall Park.”
Hines’s impact in the Houston area and around the world will continue to live on through his company and the historical landmarks he built.
Here are seven signature properties in Texas developed by Gerald Hines.
Houston
JPMorgan Chase Tower
Address: 600 Travis, Houston
Location: The block bounded by Texas, Travis, Capitol and Milam streets
Architect: I. M. Pei & Partners
Building Details: 1,660,488 square feet, 75 floors, 1,002 feet tall
One Shell Plaza
Address: 910 Louisiana Street, Houston
Location: The block bounded by Louisiana, McKinney, Walker and Smith streets
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Bricker + Cannady, 1993 renovation Kendall Heaton, 2012 renovation
Building Details: 1,228,160 square feet, 50 floors, 714 feet tall
Pennzoil Place
Address: 711 Louisiana Street, Houston
Location: The block bounded by Capitol, Rusk, Milam and Louisiana streets
Architect: Philip Johnson/John Burgee
Building Details: 1,409,713 square feet, 36 floors, 523 feet tall
The Galleria
Address: 5051 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston
Location: Corner of Post Oak Boulevard and Westheimer Road
Architect: Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum
Building Details: 788,000 square feet, 3 floors
Related: What the Galleria looked like in 1970
Williams Tower
Address: 2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston
Location: Located at the corner of Post Oak Boulevard and West Alabama Street across from The Galleria
Architect: Philip Johnson/John Burgee
Building Details: 1,482,384 square feet, 64 floors
Dallas
Galleria
Address: 13355 Noel Road, Suite 250, Dallas, TX
Location: Northeast corner of the LBJ Freeway and the Dallas Parkway
Architect: Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum
Building Details: 2,064,000 square feet, 4 floors
One Victory Park
Address: 2323 Victory Avenue, Dallas, TX
Architect: BOKA Powell
Building Details: 445,000 square feet, 17 floors