#189 l Bank of America Center l HOUSTON l 235m l 56fl

[Patrick]

Bank of America Center
Houston, USA

HEIGHT: 235m/771 feet
FLOORS: 56 floors
COMPLETION: 1983
ARCHITECT: Kendall-Heaton Assoc/ Johnson-Burgee Architects

An example of what happens when you crossbreed skyscrapers with old homes. The gables were inspired by the canal houses of The Netherlands, and give the building an instantly-recognizable appearance. The first section is 21-stories tall, while the whole building reaches a height of 56-stories. The building also sets itself apart from the other buildings in the skyline which are blue, black, and white. Bank of America Center is dark pink in appearance, being clad in red Swedish granite. Attached to the tower is a similarly-gabled square building referred to as the "banking hall." The Bank of America Center actually envelopes the old two-story Western Union building inside this hall. The old building was not razed because of the electrical connections it houses. That's why the second floor of the building is so far from street level. From the air you can get a better sense of how the setbacks are laid out, and really appreciate its unique shape. With the exception of the Chase Bank building (not to be confused with Chase Tower, or Chase Plaza, not pictured, or any of the two or three dozen other Chase buildings in the city) this is Houston's only attempt at a classic 1920's-style skyscraper. It is not easily recognizable as such because it has thrown off the shackles that bind such buildings in New York and Chicago in order to be very very modern, and match the rest of the city. Houston has a very new skyline compared to others in the United States. It only began experimenting with true skyscrapers in the 1970's and 1980's -- fifty years later than the great architectural capitals of the world. This building succeeds in taking something from the outside world and bending it to meet local sensibilities, which is a recurring theme not only in Houston, but in the whole of Texas. The skyscraper has changed names three times since completion. Originally RepublicBank Center, then NationsBank Center and now Bank of America Center. Computer gaming enthusiasts will recognize this building as one of the rewards available in the game SimCity 3000.

http://www.photohome.com/pictures/texas-pictures/houston/bank-of-america-1a.jpg

http://www.photohome.com/pictures/texas-pictures/houston/bank-of-america-4a.jpg

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/Images/Buildings/BankofAmericaCenter-001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/houston12.jpg

[RafflesCity]

8/10

Definitely very distinctive!

[Homeroids]

I'm with RafflesCity on this one. So very distinctive. 8/10

[Polskafreak]

7/10 I like its architecture but i think its to wide.

[Patrick]

oh I gave 9.0 because i ilke the design and the color...;)

[SteelCity32]

WOO I like it. 9/10

[AG]

Very recognisable and very unique. Setbacks are good too.

9/10

[Houston]

This is Houston's premier skyscraper and I give it a 10 out 10.

[Caledon1981]

a tad bit of gothic touch . . would look very nice next to PPG place IMO!! 9/10

[DrumCorpsAlum]

8/10. I don't like the gothic style on this building. Looks very 80's to me.

[Bob di Gills]

like it,

8/10 :)

[tayser]

not the best BoA IMO, but still it looks good in SimCity 3000 ;)

8

tays

[cabasse]

6.5

Sorry, IM{stupid}O it just doesn't match Houston's glass skyline well. I like gothic style buildings, but this one really doesn't do it for me at all. I don't hate the building in the least but there are so many others above it.

It IS very unique, however.

NP: Daft Punk - One More Time

[Sunflower]

Even though i don't like the gothic style, this building still looks good.

8/10

[TYW]

6/10

[enzo]

Funky. I believe the inspiration were the trade houses of German/Dutch heritage.

My fav in Houston. 9/10

[Pilot66]

Never did care for this building.
Give it a 3 at best.

[SUNNI]

Sim City! 9/10!

[NickT]

9/10 My favorite building in Houston, i love the setbacks, i use this one in almost all my cities in Sim City 3000.

[skyway]

way to wide
6/10

[De Snor]

reminds me of a church in larger proportions

[SeeMacau]

9 / 10
Very nice design

[arnold]

i have always thought that this building was a little on the grotesque side. it lacks grace and elegance. its too massive and thick and it doesn't appear to be very tall at all. i'd give it a 6/10.

[Pablo]

not my favourite 4/10

[cabasse]

One thing I can deduce from the replies is that people either seem to love this building or hate it.

I can see why people would like it, but it still doesn't do it for me.

NP: Groove Salad on SomaFM.com -- CHECK IT OUT! IT'S FINALLY BACK! (hell yeah to HR5469!!)

[Noonos]

very distinctive and different i gave it 9/10

[Jeff from Winnipeg]

Can't mistake it with anything else really. Because of it's distinctive design/colour I give it a 8.5.

[Wu-Gambino]

7.5/10

Pretty nice, however it seems too bulky.

[KGB]

I'll give it high marks for being a good example of extreme pomo...right up there with Denver's cash register and AT&T in NYC.

Houston's spaced-out buildings actually comes in handy for apreciating these kind of buildings.


9.5/10




KGB

[SeeMacau]

The building is very unique
7/10

[Jasonhouse]

Ehh... I know that alot of critics really like this building, but it is too banal for me. There is only one color in the entire scheme, except for in the lobby. Some stronger vertical banding in the pattern of the facade would have helped embolden the verticality of the aestetic. An offest tone for the window glazing would have been nice too IMO, if only to liven things up a bit. Overall, the design is a good one, and an appropriate response to the program. It is certainly a notable tower, though perhaps not a memorable one. Only time will tell.

7.0/10

[Ashram]

8/10 Definitely Houstonesque(new word), I normally don't like 80s designs but this is building is awesome.

[The Messiah]

A bit too wide,and maybe this gothic style doens't fit into the Houston skyline.
Apart from that i just like it.
7.5/10

[Evergrey]

10 A brilliant building... I believe this building was influenced by the financial buildings of Antwerp.... I love this building so much... one of the defintive skyscrapers for me... great pointy look...

[BGT]

8.5/10

[huaiwei]

A modern castle wannabe perhaps, but economics dictates it has to look wider then it should. A pity. 7.5/10.

[weirdo]

very unique. 6.0

[james2390]

9.5, looks like something u would find in midtown atlanta

[renell]

6.5/10 the top looks good. but i reckon if u look at it from ground level, it looks flat. i dun really like this

[AtlanticaC5]

The three tops is great, but it's too bulky and massive. 7/10

[il fenomeno]

one of the best buildings around the world 10/10

[Gustavo]

6.5/10, I like it, but it is just tooooooo big.

[de flatneuroot]

4/10. Postmodern nonsense, looks bulky to.

[Labrador]

7.5/10 :)
I like the distinctiveness of this building, and the setbacks it has so it gradually gets bigger, but I find the colour of the windows and the colour of the building clashes.

[airsickpenthousedweller]

[edited: read on below (sorry)]

[airsickpenthousedweller]

It sure is a tremendous building, unique in that it looks like a live-sized Pixel Art building !
Despite its references, it is still abstract enough to express pure individuality, and that's a good thing.

For flair and a nice result: 9/10

[ryanr]

i dont like it, there are better buildings in Houston.:)

4/10

[SFtoBoise]

9/10

[Monkey]

The shape is interesting, but the overall effect is uniform & boring.

I'll give this one a 6.5.

[Primo]

Is a very unique building but is too massive:

7/10

[New Jack City]

8.5/10...I love the art deco type feeling in the facade and the color, but I hate the shape. It's too wild, all over the place, it needs taming.

[pwright1]

10 One of Houston's finest.

[FloTownballer]

10/10

[Fabio]

8/10


Quite unique.

[Liz L]

7.5/10

The Gothic detail along the roofs is soo much more interesting than monotonous flat tops, and help the building's height. The mullions that set out from the rest of the facade give it texture, thus avoiding monotony.

BUT

The lower part, before the gothic roofs kick in, is so fat, high, and massive that the two parts seem to be out of scale with each other.

[Muse]

Mmmkay http://www.vvinyl.com/toys/southpark/mrmackey_t.jpg .

It's a good example of Gothic influenced post-mod, but IMHO I feel it's not ageless. Unklike Swhazernegger, it won't age gracefully.

A reasonable 6.5 and being kind to this lost soul.

[Wisma]

6.5/10 I don't like this style of scrapers....

[7 World Trade]

truly original. i love its historical feel (it's amazing how boa always manage to occupy one of the best skyscrapers in a city). but i think this building is better off in atlanta than in houston.

[DuskTrooper]

10/10 Majestic!

[DamienK]

8/10. Nice setbacks and facade detailing. Looks older than 1984.

[Islander]

I love it, what a landmark. 9

[GetOnDaTrain]

8.5/10. Unique piece of architecture with the art-deco gothic design. Glad Houston has something like this in their city. Looks a bit churchy, like One Atlantic Center is.

[Monkey]

Oh, I love this one.

My only complaint is that the facade is a bit monotonous and lacking in detail. But the overall shape and form of the building is very classy.

8.5

[Sitol447]

9,5/10 - Very nice building!

[Winus]

This one looks stupid. 6/10

[empersouf]

Too be honest, I don't like this building, it's too big. 6.5

[David3820]

Hmmm it's way to wide and not tall enough for it's desighn. Not fond of it's colour either but for it's sheer uniqueness which I find very interesting I can give it 6/10.

[andysimo123]

6/10

[HoustonTexas]

This is one of the 3 Houston-distictive Buildings (BOA Center, Texaco Heritage Plaza, Contiental Center 1).

Its Phillip Johnson's favorite building, and one of mine too!

[Chibcha2k]

i think its great 9/10

[Medo]

what a great tower, 9/10

[london-b]

I have always liked this one, 8/10

[hugo_hlv]

8/10

[hugo_hlv]

7.5/10

[MattSal]

One fantastic building from bottom to top. You gotta love this one. I give it a 9.5/10. :D

[me,myself and I]

9.5/10

IMO what's skyscrapers should be (for that kind of cities ) :

a Landmark (classy, old meets new )

[superskyline]

A FANTASTIC BUILDING! I love this one very much! The facade is wonderful and I just love the tops
9.5/10

[Henk]

8,5/10.

[Phobos]

5/10

Apart from having a nice facade,I hate its shape.It was a bad idea build three towers that look like one.

[Latoso]

8/10

[Jules]

4.5.

[Reflex]

:eek: 7/10.

[DRAKKO]

8/10

[ROYAL BLUE]

7/10

[CborG]

7/10, not my style.

[El_Greco]

9/10

[SoboleuS]

This one looks fantastic - I love its shape and colour. 9/10

[1984 D.F.]

looks great 10/10

[pali]

one of the best in US

[pon]

6.5 :weirdo:

[Camaway]

Really like the idea but it is too broad. 7

[Skylandman]

7.5/10

[www.sercan.de]

8/10

[Pengui]

It looks very ugly from the side. Way too broad.
From some angles it's cool though.
The base should have looked much better than that. Those round windows look especially stupid. It's still getting some points for its original shape and brick-style cladding.
3.5

[ChiLooper]

6/10
Eh

[forvine]

7/10 NOT Bad

[Principes]

ok i guess 6.5/10

[Sinjin P.]

6/10

[mr_storms]

what a massive building! distintive too, but facade is only ok 7.5/10

[Scruffy88]

8/10 Truly a Houston icon. Incredibly distinctive. The gothic look on a skyscraper is very original. As great as this tower is I cant think of it fitting in any other place other than Houston.

[marpa]

4,5/10

[anakin]

5/10

[dżimi pejdż]

8/10

[clarky]

8/10

[B@dGuYoM]

7/10

[Skyman]

6/10

[ZZ-II]

i love this bulding 9/10

[_zner_]

8.5

[dennis7091]

Beautiful building. 9/10

[The Forgotten Shadow]

10/10. PostModern at its best.

[virarch]

7.5/10

clean and elegant exterior.

[gutooo]

9/10

[Mosaic]

6/10

[Dreamlıneя]

it's weird but i like it

8/10

[Piotr-Stettin]

9/10

[ROYU]

It's a little wide but is ok. 8.0

[doria]

it really scares

[LAYZIEDOGG]

this one I always hated in simcity 4/10

[sharpie20]

9/10

Reminds me of a guarded fortress, looks very distinctive, no other skyscraper in the world similar to it.

[FloridaFuture]

It is too wide, but it gives it a dominating affect. The color isn't bad.
6.5/10

[Crizzy]

9/10

[SkyLerm]

well...I'll give it a 7

[W!CKED]

5/10

[Ralphkke]

I do not really like it. A 6,5 out of 10.

[cong san muon nam]

6.5/10

[Aliya]

4/10

:(

[LMCA1990]

8/10

[Sound.]

6/10

[krull]

Looks interesting enough. 8.5

[Cabman]

8/10 quality design

[Slodi]

distinctive building 8.5/10

[kyle@1008]

6...

[Astralis]

5/10

[newyorkrunaway1]

8/10

[MasonicStage™]

2/10

[RON-E]

8/10

[DragonAnime]

Absolute masterpiece- 10/10.

[Eric Offereins]

8.5/10

[kon133]

3/10

[krzewi]

WTF? :lol: 3

[pau-chin]

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/7305/h1un7.jpg

[IMPRESARIO]

fine
work

[pau-chin]

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/9761/h2hh6.jpg

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/1187/h3zf5.jpg

[roen]

6/10

[Halabalooza]

its ok. 6

[GOR@N]

6/10

[Fundador]

8/10:)

[Nikkodemo]

Interesting shape.

8.5/10

[henry hill]

I don't like something like that. Connecting the tradition? With the modern tower block? And this colour. Ugly.

6/10

[Rutger1991]

6.5/10

[Kawasaki KG]

5.5/10

[briker]

10. love it

[Malbo]

7/10

[Go Ahead Eagles]

7.5/10

[Nout]

Looks like a very big house ;). 7.5/10

[DinamiT]

6/10

[A_Voz_Da_Figueira]

4/10

[rockin'.baltimorean]

8/10

[tonyssa]

6/10

[skyperu34]

Very unique !

8.0/10

[Dallas star]

7/10 I don't really like this building.

[pepe.eu]

7.5/10

[AmericanSkyscraper22]

great design- 9/10

[ireneo]

8.0

[Imperfect Ending]

8/10

Nice cathedral shape

[#obert]

7/10

[Jan Del Castillo]

9. Very good building. Regards.

[deranged]

8.5/10

[deranged]

edit

[c6josh]

7/10 not that impressive

[HK999]

7.5/10.

[makaveli6]

7/10

[Skyton]

6/10 :(

[xavarreiro]

8/10

[sharky_88]

5/10

[desertpunk]

Who else but Phillip Johnson would do a 56 story skyscraper in dutch guildhall? This oddity gets a 7.

[sieradzanin1]

8/10

[New York Morning]

cool design 7.0

[diskojoe]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2666/4242545923_e59e480937_o.jpg

[KAZAN RESIDENT]

9,5/10

[national guard]

8.5/10

[vaybee]

9/10

[Jarenz]

7/10

[heroico]

10/10