#293 l One Shell Plaza l HOUSTON l 218m l 50fl

May 17th, 2003, 04:23 AM

One Shell Plaza
Houston, USA

HEIGHT: 218m/715 feet
FLOORS: 50 floors
COMPLETION: 1971
ARCHITECT: Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM)

Deceptively simple in appearance, One Shell Plaza has a number of surprises upon closer examination. Outwardly, it looks like any other boring concrete block. But it is the only one in downtown Houston to sport a mast like so many skyscrapers in other cities. Its base has just a slight flare to it, spreading out like a Japanese fuji. The neighboring Two Shell Plaza appears to pay homage to this flare with the windows on its lower levels. They appear in roughly triangle patterns. But in reality, this is a structural element. Back at One Shell Plaza, looking down the sides you will notice that not all of the vertical lines are of the same width. Towards the corners some are wider for added structural strength.

Wu-Gambino · May 17th, 2003, 05:18 AM

4/10

SteelCity32 · May 17th, 2003, 05:30 AM

a box with a big spire...5/10

RafflesCity · May 18th, 2003, 08:20 AM

4.5/10

How creative

renell · May 18th, 2003, 08:37 AM

5/10 typical 70's box

The Messiah · May 18th, 2003, 08:03 PM

Hehe how nice....a box

4.5/10

weirdo · May 20th, 2003, 08:39 PM

cmon guys, it isnt that bad. 5.5/10

May 26th, 2003, 05:12 AM

4

huaiwei · May 28th, 2003, 11:39 AM

I am not kind when dealing with boxes...and I am particularly harsh on plain ones. 4/10.

Liz L · May 28th, 2003, 09:05 PM

5/10 - **YAWN** - Not just a box, but a dull box - a bland facade, with windows like holes in a cheese grater, and one silly antenna on a flat roof...nothing of interest here at all.

Did SOM hand this job over to some of their newly hired draftsmen for practice, I wonder???

Goes to show that it's not just the shape, it's what the architect does with it...in this case, very little...

De Snor · June 8th, 2003, 08:07 PM

Demo squad

jmancuso · June 14th, 2003, 02:57 AM

I like this building ( I don't like the antenna)

BTW, this building contours and tapers at the bottom, but it's hard to notice unless you right there...

6/10

james2390 · June 16th, 2003, 09:12 AM

very creative! 6

Gustavo · June 17th, 2003, 01:19 AM

5/10... Boring

July 1st, 2003, 01:20 PM

10...i felt bad...

Galactica · July 2nd, 2003, 06:50 PM

Uhh...

0/10

July 2nd, 2003, 11:39 PM

I'm the guy who usually loves boxes but I have to say that this is the biggest piece of crap I've ever seen, and I don't care for it's little "surprises".
Nothing can save this one...it's combination of a box (though that itself isn't what kills it), square windows, ugly color, and that hideous spire on top just makes me want to vommit.

2/10

And it further shocks me that this comes from SOM...the designers of skyscraper masterpieces such as the John Hancock Center and Sears Tower.

To be fare though, I think it looks nice at night.

Chibcha2k · July 4th, 2003, 08:16 AM

it looks like a 1prudential plaza wannabe ...not creative nor impressing 4.5/10

AtlanticaC5 · August 26th, 2003, 11:41 AM

Blah...what did they think on when they made this one? 4/10

il fenomeno · August 28th, 2003, 12:42 PM

box box box

-1

View Poll Results: #197 - One Shell Plaza, Houston
10	11	4.98%
9.5	1	0.45%
9	3	1.36%
8.5	1	0.45%
8	4	1.81%
7.5	11	4.98%
7	15	6.79%
6.5	11	4.98%
6	18	8.14%
5.5	7	3.17%
5	41	18.55%
4.5	17	7.69%
4	21	9.50%
3.5	14	6.33%
3 or less	46	20.81%
Voters: 221. You may not vote on this poll

May 17th, 2003, 04:23 AM	#1
BGT Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	#293 l One Shell Plaza l HOUSTON l 218m l 50fl One Shell Plaza Houston, USA HEIGHT: 218m/715 feet FLOORS: 50 floors COMPLETION: 1971 ARCHITECT: Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM) Deceptively simple in appearance, One Shell Plaza has a number of surprises upon closer examination. Outwardly, it looks like any other boring concrete block. But it is the only one in downtown Houston to sport a mast like so many skyscrapers in other cities. Its base has just a slight flare to it, spreading out like a Japanese fuji. The neighboring Two Shell Plaza appears to pay homage to this flare with the windows on its lower levels. They appear in roughly triangle patterns. But in reality, this is a structural element. Back at One Shell Plaza, looking down the sides you will notice that not all of the vertical lines are of the same width. Towards the corners some are wider for added structural strength. Last edited by ZZ-II; July 25th, 2008 at 08:48 PM.

May 17th, 2003, 05:30 AM	#3
SteelCity32 Don't be that guy! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 1,098 Likes (Received): 0	a box with a big spire...5/10 __________________ I often dream of huge numb buildings, jet black sinister architecture. Being installed when nobody sees. Their appearence so sudden that few would take notice.

May 18th, 2003, 08:37 AM	#5
renell Here Since 2002 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sydney/Metro Manila Posts: 6,715 Likes (Received): 2	5/10 typical 70's box __________________ dafuq I've been here ten years?!

May 18th, 2003, 08:03 PM	#6
The Messiah Finishing this fight Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Middelburg(The Netherlands) Posts: 1,301 Likes (Received): 1	Hehe how nice....a box 4.5/10 __________________ The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 2 characters.

May 17th, 2003, 05:18 AM	#2
Wu-Gambino Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,679 Likes (Received): 2	4/10

May 18th, 2003, 08:20 AM	#4
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 2	4.5/10 How creative

May 20th, 2003, 08:39 PM	#7
weirdo helter skelter Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: avenida taft Posts: 652 Likes (Received): 2	cmon guys, it isnt that bad. 5.5/10 __________________ metro manila daily bangkok \| manila \| singapore \|

May 26th, 2003, 05:12 AM	#8
Mr. Detroit Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	4

May 28th, 2003, 11:39 AM	#9
huaiwei The Monkey King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Singapore 新加坡 Singapura சிங்கப்&#2986 Posts: 11,897 Likes (Received): 0	I am not kind when dealing with boxes...and I am particularly harsh on plain ones. 4/10. __________________ Majulah Singapura 前进吧，新加坡！Onward Singapore முன்னேறட்டும் சிங்கப்பூர் "My Settlement of Singapore continues to thrive most wonderfully - it is all and everything I could wish and, if no untimely fate awaits it, promises to become the Emporium and the pride of the East" - Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, 10th September 1820

May 28th, 2003, 09:05 PM	#10
Liz L Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 403 Likes (Received): 0	5/10 - YAWN - Not just a box, but a dull box - a bland facade, with windows like holes in a cheese grater, and one silly antenna on a flat roof...nothing of interest here at all. Did SOM hand this job over to some of their newly hired draftsmen for practice, I wonder??? Goes to show that it's not just the shape, it's what the architect does with it...in this case, very little... __________________ Liz L Art Deco rules!

June 8th, 2003, 08:07 PM	#11
De Snor Forever Travelling Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 6,353 Likes (Received): 15	Demo squad

June 14th, 2003, 02:57 AM	#12
jmancuso make it so... Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 6,875 Likes (Received): 20	I like this building ( I don't like the antenna) BTW, this building contours and tapers at the bottom, but it's hard to notice unless you right there... 6/10 __________________ 10 years!

June 16th, 2003, 09:12 AM	#13
james2390 Tribune Tower Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,920 Likes (Received): 0	very creative! 6

June 17th, 2003, 01:19 AM	#14
Gustavo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: La Gran Caracas Posts: 504 Likes (Received): 2	5/10... Boring __________________ Latin Forums

July 1st, 2003, 01:20 PM	#15
TmanNYC Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	10...i felt bad...

July 2nd, 2003, 06:50 PM	#16
Galactica ADC Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 144 Likes (Received): 0	Uhh... 0/10

July 2nd, 2003, 11:39 PM	#17
Duke Togo Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	I'm the guy who usually loves boxes but I have to say that this is the biggest piece of crap I've ever seen, and I don't care for it's little "surprises". Nothing can save this one...it's combination of a box (though that itself isn't what kills it), square windows, ugly color, and that hideous spire on top just makes me want to vommit. 2/10 And it further shocks me that this comes from SOM...the designers of skyscraper masterpieces such as the John Hancock Center and Sears Tower. To be fare though, I think it looks nice at night.

July 4th, 2003, 08:16 AM	#18
Chibcha2k XPC Fagua chinanuca Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Altiplano Cundiboyacense Posts: 6,493 Likes (Received): 49	it looks like a 1prudential plaza wannabe ...not creative nor impressing 4.5/10 __________________ WAYUU Jemeishi taya julü’ü wane mma warattüsiü Kepiashi taya ja’aka jorottüi, jaitairü apain. Taya juwaralain wane lapü jumaiwajatü Vito Apüshana

August 26th, 2003, 11:41 AM	#19
AtlanticaC5 Right Here, Right Now Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Stockholm Posts: 2,655 Likes (Received): 0	Blah...what did they think on when they made this one? 4/10 __________________ Higher and higher, straight up we'll climb

August 28th, 2003, 12:42 PM	#20
il fenomeno postings fürs herz ♥ Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: milão - mas eu sou do brasil! Posts: 4,233 Likes (Received): 3573	box box box -1

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