When we were downtown last Saturday we wanted to go to the observation deck of the JP Morgan Chase Tower but we found it was closed on weekends. So, we went back this morning.
JP Morgan Chase Tower at 75 floors is the tallest building in Houston and the 85th tallest building in the world (no kidding). It was designed by I. M. Pei and Partners (yes, this guy)
Here is a view from the tower looking southwest. (Caution: big files)
On the right with the radio tower is One Shell Plaza. The tower is used by several of the local FM stations. There used to be a TV station there also but they moved it because the downtown buildings caused severe ghosting.
In the middle is Wells Fargo Plaza and on the left is Enterprise Plaza.
On the way from the parking lot we passed the Majestic Metro Theater. This is the last standing movie house in downtown Houston. It is no longer used for movies. Instead it is a venue for high dollar wedding receptions and corporate events.
The Majestic Metro closed as a movie house in 1985 after 15 years of hosting blacksploitation flics.
On the way back to the car we passed the old Rice Hotel. It ceased operations as a hotel in 1977 and was resurrected as a high dollar condo building in 1998.
