Reliant Energy Plaza
Houston, USA

HEIGHT: 226m/741 feet
FLOORS: 47 floors
COMPLETION: 1974
ARCHITECT: Kendall Heaton Assoc.

This building is an example of what can be achieved with a little imagination. Like a number of other skyscrapers in Houston, it was a boring block of black glass. Sure, energy efficient, but not very attractive. Then in 1996 something wonderful happened. The building was transformed into a Houston landmark by the architectural firm of DMJM Keating. It added a six-story cap to the skyscraper with a big hole cut into it. In text, it sound stupid. But from the ground, from the air, and from neighboring buildings it's a treat by day and a beacon when illuminated by night. Many people ask us if it is possible to access the inside of the pavilion. The answer is yes, as demonstrated in a 2001 television commercial for Reliant Energy. People also ask if helicopters land there. The answer is no. It's too tight a space, and too windy, which is also the reason that banquets are not held up there. Sure, it would be dramatic, but the candles would blow out and there would be napkins and gravy all over the place, so please stop asking. The crown is lined in white to reflect the floodlights, and occasionally those lights will be changed to red, green, or blue to reflect certain holidays. Would any company go through all this work just to make an architectural statement? Not exactly. Inside the pinnacle is all sorts of radio, microwave, and other communications equipment, and the space rental fees make money. The building once had a large slanted atrium, but it was removed in the 1994 renovation.

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/Images/Buildings/HoustonIndustries-002.jpg http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/Images/Buildings/Downtown/ReliantEnergyPlaza-001.jpg

http://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2001/12/135011.jpg

http://www.kendall-heaton.com/Large%20images/houston_industries.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/houston39.jpg

Looks great except for the hole! 7

nice, I like this one...


whats with them being stickies?

7/10

I like this building specially the top,,,,, 9/10
the aerial shot is amazin

Nice tower.Expecially the top.But the rest isn't that special.
7.0/10

yeah, whats with the new polls being stickies?:?

anyways, without that hole, the building looks quite boring 6.5

7/10

That contraption on top saves this from being just another box. Apart from that, the facade is also quite good.

eh. . . . um. . . 6

6.5/10 - a box - tall and slim, and with a facade that can catch the light - but still a box...

I'm not sure I like the color scheme, and as for the roof....
Uh, guys, I appreciate your sincere effort to avoid a flat top, but, well, you didn't quite get it. The four columns supporting a deck with a huge hole in it simply look like a huge afterthought - they have no relation to the rest of the building. Its only saving virtue is that it looks rather nice lit up at night.

Hmm, pretty neat.
7.0

Not bad but the design is still too plain. 7.0

5.5 This would be a rather sleek looking box... but that absurd hole in the top hurts this

6/10

This building has a very-so simple-design; unless the circular-hole on the top which is really makes this box-looking skyscraper different from the others.....8/10

Uh, guys, I appreciate your sincere effort to avoid a flat top, but, well, you didn't quite get it. The four columns supporting a deck with a huge hole in it simply look like a huge afterthought - they have no relation to the rest of the building. Its only saving virtue is that it looks rather nice lit up at night.I agree Liz L! You can't see the hole very well anyway! The facade is this building's redeeming feature. 6/10.

8/10. It almost looks like a giant coffee table perched on top of the building.

Almost a box if it didnt have a special top.. The top is definately one of its kind! The top is lit beautifully at night :)

7.5/10

Bad box, lousy facade...but for some reason I love the roof. :) 6/10.

This building was built in 1974 and was very much a box, but in the eary ninties, the top section was added and the lobby/base was redveloped. I like this building

8/10

9/10

interesting design, 9.5

I like this one, 8/10

nice box version 5/10

i like the top, and top only.
7/10

facade: boring
form: boxy
specials: +1 for the top
points: 6.5

7.5/10


interesting box

What a failure of a top....

4/10

Nice tower, the top is quite special

8/10

8/10

the modifications really make a difference on the building, but the roof hole should've been square instead of round.

somehow this thing always reminds me of axa nyc. the two would look good next to each other.

8

8, coolboxcooltop

Wow, I love everything about it. Expecially the whole but for some reason it just doesn't impress me enough to make it be nearly one of my favorites. I gues because it's just missing something. 8.5/10

Ghastly. A little 'creativity' on top doesnt make a skinny black box better it just makes it more tacky. Looks like just as much thought went into this building as the other 75% of the buildings in Houston. 3/10

5.5/10. Good thing Reliant Energy has lights up that skyhole because it sucks during the day. At least it ain't no box no more. Now if they can get a big giant lightbulb that size, then it will do some good. But that's just my imagination talking.

The top is a very interesting feature and looks great at night. Very original.

Nice facade too.

8/10

6/10

7.0

how about lowering the roof?? i like the hole though:D

7/10

not so nice 5

I appreciate its uniqueness and individuality, while at the same time I see how ugly it is. I give it a 4.5/10. :(

7/10

Good box. 8.

8/10

Good design.The top is cool.

7/10

8/10

The top is alright, 7.5/10

Unknown to some forumers, the name of this building has changed. It is now called:

CenterPoint Energy Plaza

Reliant Energy Plaza moved to 1000 Main

7/10

8/10

The niteshots look good but it isn´t a very good looking building in daylight... 6pts

7.5/10

Very interesting top!:yes: 7.5/10.

that hole.. :puke: 6.5/10

Good box with a great top. 8/10

A box with a nice top 7.5/10

8.5/10

8,5/10

8/10

I like the top
7.5/10

Boxy but quite nice! 8.5/10

Viewed from the top it's cool, the problem is, most people will see it from the bottom, and from that point of view it's just plain ugly.
Too bad.
4.

6/10

7/10

7.5/10 only because of that top

plain tower but im really feeling the top and the carved out hole. extra point for cool night illuminations

8/10

7.5

Great building, no more , no less.
8/10

6/10

5/10

7/10

7,5/10

nice box with cool top 8.5/10

5/10

6/10.

8/10

9/10

7/10

7/10

8.5 nice.

The top of the building is unique. 9/10

just like modern Bismarck tower :lol: 7/10

5.5 / 10

The top could have been done better.

Facade is unimaginative, i like boxes since they're very efficient from a cost perspective and the top is unique.

6.5/10

7/10

Not my style. 6 out of 10.

7.5/10.

I like the top. 7.5/10

7.5/10

8.5/10

8/10 - nice top.

i like the top of the tower, nice design. 8

9/10

Should've left the top alone 5.5/10

nice top 8/10

7..

6/10

7.5

I like the top, looks futuristic :)

7/10

7/10

8/10

6/10

3/10

8/10

brilliant roof :)

i like the top.

8/10

the top is cool. 6

9/10 (Original 1974 look 7/10)

7/10

Interesting rooftop, 7.5/10

8/10:)

7,5/10

6/10

Interesting detail of the top.

8/10

6.5/10

This roof was unnecessary. Matter of the taste.

6/10

8/

5.5/10

6/10

7/10

interesting top. 7/10

7/10

7/10

a bit boring...

5.5/10

7/10

Nice top

8. Good building. Regards.

6.5/10

8/10

voted 7/10 simple

Muscular modernist box with a great addition to the top. A personal fave. 8

7.5/10

8.5

7/10

9/10

The top ruins it. 5/10

7/10

7.5

6.5/10, regular box with a good top.

6/10

6/10

7/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

7 very good

6/10

6..don't like the top-looks like a cooking stove.

7/10

6.5/10

Box with a weird hole.

8/10

Very nice!

8.5/10

Decent building. 6.5/10

10/10
I like the circular hole on the roof

8/10

10/10. A box the way it should be!

8/10

8/10

8/10