JPMorgan Chase Tower (Houston)
| Company type | Office skyscraper |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commercial real estate |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Houston , United States |
| Products | Office space, retail space |
| Owner | Cerberus Capital Management and Hines Interests |
The JPMorgan Chase Tower, previously known as the Texas Commerce Tower, stands as a 75-story high-rise located at 600 Travis Street in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States. It ranks as the second tallest structure in Texas, holds the distinction of being the tallest five-sided building globally, ranks 29th among the tallest buildings in the United States, and is positioned 107th on the list of the world's tallest buildings.
Overview
Finished in 1981 under the name Texas Commerce Tower and commissioned by Texas Commerce Bancshares, this skyscraper reaches a height of 1002 feet across 75 floors. It overlooks United Energy Plaza, which features Joan Miro’s sculpture Personage and Birds, and includes a terrace water garden. The building was co-developed by Khalid bin Mahfouz and is situated on part of the former Uptown Theatre site, which was demolished in 1965.
When completed, it overtook Los Angeles' Aon Center as the tallest building west of the Mississippi River, maintaining this status until 1989 when Los Angeles’ Library Tower (now known as U.S. Bank Tower) was constructed.
The JPMorgan Chase Tower held the title of Texas’ tallest building for 44 years from its completion in 1981 until surpassed by Waterline Austin in 2025.
This tower is integrated with the extensive Houston Downtown Tunnel System, a climate-controlled pedestrian network connecting ninety-five city blocks. Its lobby design complements the neighboring Jones Hall, home to the Houston Symphony Orchestra, featuring a five-story glass wall framed by stainless steel that opens onto the plaza. Additionally, the building provides retail space totaling .
Although bearing JPMorgan Chase’s name, until 2021 the bank maintained only a single branch on the ground floor. Ownership resides with Cerberus Capital Management and Hines Interests.
Hurricane Ike
On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike inflicted significant damage on the tower, shattering numerous windows and exposing office furniture, while distorting metal blinds and scattering glass fragments across the surrounding streets. Authorities secured the vicinity to prevent hazards from the debris.
Initial theories suggested that the window breakage was caused by flying debris or intense winds funneled through narrow spaces. However, these explanations were deemed inadequate since the damage extended higher than neighboring structures such as the Chase Center parking garage. Alternative hypotheses considered pressure differences—where reduced external pressure combined with elevated internal building pressure—possibly surpassing structural tolerances and leading to window failures. ABS Consulting Engineers further proposed that "organized" vortex formations generated by adjacent buildings played a role in damaging the glazing.
The NatHaz Modeling Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame employed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques to simulate airflow patterns around the tower and its environment. Their 2009 study concluded that the localized damage stemmed from multiple interacting factors: the spatial configuration of nearby buildings, specific wind directions, and debris becoming trapped within complex airflow vortices.
Fictional portrayals
- The structure was depicted as the headquarters of the fictional "Knox Oil & Gas Company" in the 1983 movie Local Hero.
- It also appeared as Charles C. Foster's law firm in the 2009 film Mao's Last Dancer.
See also
- List of tallest buildings in Houston
- List of tallest buildings by U.S. state
- List of tallest buildings in Texas
- List of tallest buildings in the United States
- Gulf Building (Houston)
Bibliography
- Barrie Scardino Bradley, Improbable Metropolis: Houston's Architectural and Urban History, University of Texas Press, 2020, ISBN 978-1-4773-2019-8
- Stephen Fox, AIA Houston Architectural Guide, Third Edition, American Institute of Architects Houston Chapter, 2012, ISBN 978-0-615-66959-5